Horse racing grapples with risks of running during pandemic

Horse racing is quickly learning it is not totally immune to the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on other sports, and now it’s grappling with the risks of continuing operations. The Louisiana Derby was still set for Saturday, the world’s richest day of races is scheduled to go on in late March in Dubai and several tracks across the world remain open. But a worker in New York testing positive for the virus, the shuttering of Aqueduct Racetrack and jockeys growing reluctant to ride has put racing on edge.

“We’re living on borrowed time,” said trainer Tom Amoss, who put himself into self-quarantine after interacting with coronaviruspositive New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton last weekend.“We’re one jockey away from getting a positive test or getting sick to close our track down.”

Following the lead of tracks in Japan and Hong Kong, many in the U.S. decided to close to the general public but keep running with essential personnel. The Kentucky Derby was postponed, with other Triple Crown races expected to follow, but with no NCAA Tournament and few sports events going on, horse racing has been the only live sport to watch and gamble on.“If we can operate it and do it at a safe manner ... it gives people something to do,” Preakness and Belmont-winning trainer Mark Casse said before the latest developments.

How safe remains a question. Prominent U.S.-based jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr., Luis Saez and Tyler Gaffalione each said they wouldn’t travel to Dubai because of coronavirus or quarantine fears, and Ortiz took it a step further by announcing he wouldn’t take any mounts right now.