Owners can watch horses run

Friday’s program at Del Mar is opening day of the summer meeting for a select group of people.

Owners with horses entered on the program will be allowed to attend races in California for the first time since mid-March, the Thoroughbred Owners of California announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Racing was held without spectators or owners at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos in the spring and earlier this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, a policy that was in place when the current Del Mar summer meeting began on July 10.

Beginning Friday, attendance will largely be restricted to up to two licensed owners per horse, but no guests, according to the TOC’s statement.

Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said on Wednesday that owners can watch races from the second-floor grandstand and box seat area, but that the turf club will not be in operation. A limited amount of food and beverage service and betting windows will be open.

“This is so owners can conduct commerce and manage their stables and see their horses compete,” Rubinstein said. “They can buy and sell horses, including claiming. Owners are essential personnel.”

Owners must make reservations to attend races with TOC officials within 24 hours of raceday. The TOC said in its statement that if a horse has more than two owners wishing to attend, the organization “will do its best to accommodate, if space is available.”

Owners have been permitted to attend morning workouts at Del Mar in recent weeks. To attend the races, owners must undergo a coronavirus health screening, including a temperature check, and will be required to wear face coverings and follow social-distancing etiquette.

Owners will not be allowed in the paddock. There are no winner’s circle ceremonies at the meeting.

Rubinstein expects “a couple of hundred” owners to attend each day. A limited number of owners are allowed to attend races at the Saratoga meeting in upstate New York.

Rubinstein said there are no plans to allow other spectators at the summer meeting, which runs through Sept. 7. Government officials in California have banned spectators from sporting events.

“We’d love nothing more than to do that,” Rubinstein said of allowing attendance from the general public.

“Right now, sports, at least in California, are without spectators. Until that changes, we’re no different. Certainly if there is a change in state policy involving spectators, we’d love to welcome fans.”