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SPORTS Saturday 21 March 2020
Horse racing grapples with risks of running during pandemic

By STEPHEN WHYNO something to do," Preak-
AP Sports Writer ness and Belmont-winning
Horse racing is quickly trainer Mark Casse said said
learning it is not totally im- before the latest develop-
mune to the effects the ments.
coronavirus pandemic has How safe remains a ques-
had on other sports, and tion. Prominent U.S.-based
now it's grappling with the jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr., Luis
risks of continuing opera- Saez and Tyler Gaffalione
tions. each said they wouldn't
The Louisiana Derby for travel to Dubai because
now is still set for Saturday, of coronavirus or quaran-
the world's richest day of tine fears, and Ortiz took it
races is scheduled to go on a step further by announc-
in late March in Dubai and ing he wouldn't take any
several tracks across the mounts right now.
U.S. and worldwide remain "After a lot of consideration,
open. But a worker in New I have decided to stop rid-
York testing positive for the ing," Ortiz tweeted. "This is
new coronavirus and shut- the safest decision for my
tering another racetrack family and myself. Hopeful-
and jockeys growing reluc- ly we can all make it safely
tant to ride has put racing out of this quarantine soon-
on edge. er than later and get back Horses run in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park in front of empty stands, Saturday, March 14, 2020,
"I think we're living on bor- to what we all love." in Arcadia, Calif.
rowed time," said trainer A backstretch worker at Associated Press
Tom Amoss, who put him- Belmont Park on Long Is-
self into self-quarantine af- land tested positive Thurs- stance we're not subjecting on the racetrack, all of that Information Services. "It's
ter interacting with corona- day for COVID-19, and people to any undue risks," (money wagered) should pretty clear, to no surprise
virus positive New Orleans Aqueduct Racetrack sus- Waldrop said. "If there is an be protected because of anyone, that business is
Saints coach Sean Payton pended live racing indefi- outbreak of any sort, we'll they weren't coming any- up, especially online be-
at a track last weekend. nitely. Maryland's Laurel be on the lookout for that. way." cause of racing being the
"We're one jockey away Park announced it was That may change the situ- The money had still been only game in town."
from getting a positive test "pausing" live racing, while ation. It's a day-to-day situ- coming in. Over $17.5 mil- It's also the only game on
or getting sick to close our Florida's Gulfstream Park ation. We're doing our best lion was bet on three days TV. On a weekend usu-
track down." closed Friday with plans to to keep everyone safe." of racing at Aqueduct Park ally reserved for the NCAA
Following the lead of tracks reopen Saturday. In recent days, with long- last weekend, up from the Tournament, NBC Sports
in Japan and Hong Kong, Tracks are taking precau- established online betting same weekend two years and Fox Sports are increas-
many in the U.S. decided tions such as temperature platforms, less reliance on ago. Oaklawn Park in Ar- ing coverage this weekend
to close to the general checks and limits on the fans at the track, plenty of kansas reported $10.1 mil- of major races going on
public but keep running number of people allowed television coverage and lion wagered last Saturday from coast to coast, includ-
with only essential person- in certain areas at a time. limited contact among on 11 races, and figures ing the $1 million Louisiana
nel. The Kentucky Derby National Thoroughbred people it seemed possible across the country were Derby.
was postponed until the fall Racing Association presi- for the sport to continue similarly strong even with But things have changed
with the other Triple Crown dent and CEO Alex Wal- operating. tracks closed to the gen- and horse racing is facing
races expected to follow, drop said there's a focus "We obviously don't have eral public. mounting obstacles that
but with no NCAA Tourna- on protecting and caring as much to lose because "Racing goes pretty much could halt everything in its
ment and few, if any, other for backstretch and stable we've done such a poor from noon until 9 or 10 at tracks.
events going on, horse rac- workers who look after the job of developing new fans, night, so not quite around "I'm fully aware there's a
ing for at least a little while horses, with dorm rooms which would be the people the clock, but we've ac- bigger issue here than
has been the only live sport available for isolation and that would come to the tually noticed a bigger whether we race horses
to watch and gamble on. ongoing communication track," Thoroughbred Idea uptick in business for the in the immediate future
"If we can operate it and with health officials. Foundation founder Craig nighttime" races, said Ed or not," Amoss said. "Our
do it at a safe manner, it's "We have to be very care- Bernick said. "So, frankly, DeRosa, marketing direc- country's health is first and
great, and it gives people ful that even in this circum- if they're not allowing fans tor for Bloodstock Research foremost."q

Judge recommends dismissing suit against former MSU coach

By NOAH TRISTER lawsuit in November 2018 In a filing Friday, Magistrate "Plaintiff Blackwell's attor- narrow claim Plaintiff al-
DETROIT (AP) — A federal claiming his employment Judge Sally J. Berens said neys have repeatedly mis- leges against the MSU De-
judge has recommended agreement was violated the case against Dantonio, used court process to elicit fendants in this case, but
that a former Michigan when he was disciplined Hollis and Simon "appears information unrelated to his to harass the defendants
State football staff mem- while the school addressed to have been prosecuted case and then have pub- and to build a case they
ber's claims against former sexual assault allegations for an improper purpose licly filed that information, have now filed in state
Spartans football coach against three players in and should be dismissed." at least once in violation of court."Blackwell recently
Mark Dantonio, former ath- 2017. Dantonio, Hollis and Berens did not recom- a court order," Berens said filed a lawsuit in Wayne
letic director Mark Hollis and Simon were named as de- mend dismissing the claims in her recommendation. County Circuit Court, nam-
former school President Lou fendants in the suit. Two against the detectives.The She added that it ap- ing Dantonio, Hollis, Simon
Anna Simon should be dis- MSU police detectives recommendation goes to pears Blackwell's lawyers and current Michigan State
missed. were also named as defen- Janet T. Neff, the federal "have used discovery, not athletic director Bill Beek-
Curtis Blackwell filed a dants. judge overseeing the case. to adduce support for the man as defendants. q