Saturday Update

[RUFFIAN]

FROM DRF EMAIL REPLY RE STAKES FOR SATURDAY
Per Jody Swevy @ DRF

“Only stake currently on schedule this week is the Purple Martin at Oaklawn.” :tr

[cal828]

From DRF I'm guessing that the tracks that will be operating this coming weekend are Golden Gate, Gulfstream, Oaklawn and Tampa Bay. As you say, the only stakes is that one at Oaklawn.

[JolyB]

Very strange time to be a racing fan. The only thoroughbred tracks in the country running today are Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma and Fonner Park in Nebraska. I think that tomorrow it will be only those two plus Tampa Bay. I'm somewhat surprised to see that Gulfstream is still running; at least they have drawn entries for Thursday. The way that they moved the mandatory Rainbow 6 from last Sunday to Saturday made me believe that they would stop racing immediately after the Florida Derby, but that didn't happen.

I'm sure that all of this is day to day and could be changed without notice. Public health and safety issues are paramount for the near term.

[JolyB]

Just read at DRF and HRN that Santa Anita will remain closed for racing this weekend pursuant to an order from the LA County Health Department.

About a month ago I had suggested that April 4 would be an ideal time for us to have an all stakes card, with Santa Anita, Keeneland and Aqueduct all hosting key preps for both the KY Derby and KY Oaks. How quickly times can change. All three of those tracks are closed to racing [Aqueduct is one of many special treatment areas for Coronavirus victims], the Derby and Oaks have been postponed until September, and as Ruffian pointed out, Oaklawn is the only track still running to have even a minor stakes race on its card.

[cal828]

I agree completely. I think we might make it through this weekend, but going forth, you have to think all racing might stop. I can't see how the Arkansas Derby can possible go a little over a month from now. The virus reportedly doubles the number of infected every 3 days. I am sure it may be ameliorated by people staying at home, but unfortunately, we've also got some people in this state that don't read so well and probably seldom watch the news and we are a bible-thumper state so there will be those that think they have to be at church whenever the doors are open. Seems very likely to me that the virus will come to the backstretch of Oaklawn and that will be all she wrote.

[RUFFIAN]

“...that will be all she wrote” . .

[cal828]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

“...that will be all she wrote” . .

Me too Ma'am. My entertainment consists of playing races, reading books, and watching Netflix while I exercise on a stationary bike. I will sorely miss racing, if it goes away and the friendship and camaraderie that people who have a common interest share, of course.