Page 80 - May2020.indd

Izzy Trejo, NMHRC Executive Director
Orlando concurs. “Our live handle numbers have been strong. After 8:15 p.m. we are the only track in the U.S. racing, so we have a large national audience tuning in, many for the first time. Our racing office has been able to fill races for Thoroughbreds that otherwise would have raced at Santa Anita or Golden Gate.
“The name recognition of these horses and trainers has also added to the fan attention of our night races this past week. Some of those trainers hadn’t entered a horse in an 870-yard before so perhaps they’ll try other horses at this distance in the future.
“We also can’t say enough about our partners at TVG. They have continued to adjust on the fly to provide great coverage. The 2 year olds based at Los Alamitos have also started campaigning, and we’ve seen 11 races for juveniles in the past few weeks. Hopefully new viewers enjoy the excitement of Quarter Horse racing and follow the futurity division moving forward.”
Bruce adds that for 50-plus years, Louisiana owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and backside
Spence Kidney, Heritage Place Manager
personnel have been strong and steadfast in supporting the industry. “We have seen many triumphant and trying times and 2020 presents an exceptional challenge with COVID-19. All Louisiana stallion farms have reported a very strong breeding season, which will lead to a solid foal crop in 2021. All these things are key for the [Louisiana] horse industry and economy.”
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT
Although we can expect a gradual return
to our daily lives, it’s certain that, at least until a COVID-19 vaccine and reliable treatments come onto the market, we’ll have to adapt to
a new normal. “Horse racing people are tough and resilient,” says Izzy. “We have a lot of hope that we can get back to where we were. There’s been a lot of good communication between racetracks, horsemen’s groups and racing commissions; we’re all in this together.”
All facets of the industry are affected. Among those is marketing the horses headed to and coming off the track. Heritage Place is studying
Jimmy Eller, Granada Farms Manager
the issue. “We’ve announced to our constituents that we’ll figure it out and provide them with options for marketing horses,” says Spence. “We’re looking at alternatives that will still allow us to market these horses any time of the year. Those alternatives may not look and feel just like what we’re used to, but they will provide liquidity in the market.”
Breeders using transported semen will need to adjust to ever-changing regulations that affect airlines until service and schedules get back to their pre-COVID-19 levels. “Airlines that use our local airport have cancelled all their flights through May, so we have to rely on FedEx, which can deliver next-day rather than same-day,” says Jimmy. “So we try to get the word out to clients to plan ahead and get their mares checked during the week as frequently as possible.”
The Texas stallion manager says that, although the Texas Quarter Horse Association sale has historically been held in conjunction with Retama Park’s meet, if the meet doesn’t happen, the sale will go on. “Hopefully, it’ll be
“Airlines that use our local airport have cancelled all their flights through May, so we have to rely on FedEx, which can deliver next- day rather than same day,” says Jimmy.
78 SPEEDHORSE May 2020