Fonner granted meet extension

The Nebraska Racing Commission granted Fonner Park’s request to run an additional 12 racing days following the scheduled conclusion of its 2020 race meeting on April 20.

Fonner will continue racing through May 31, continuing its Monday-through-Wednesday three-day race weeks, after the commission voted 5-0 to approve Fonner’s request.

Fonner requested to extend its meet because the coronavirus pandemic has caused a disruption to the intended Nebraska racing schedule this year. The commission, which met via teleconference, also granted Horsemen’s Park’s request to cancel its 2020 race meeting, which was supposed to include seven dates between May 8 and May 24. The commission also waived the stipulation that Horsemen’s Park host at least one Nebraska-bred race this year in order to host simulcasting in 2021. Horsemen’s ownership also operates Lincoln Race Course, which was granted permission to reschedule a three-day 2020 meet to June 26-28 from July 3-5.

Columbus Races is scheduled to race 10 days between May 29 and June 21, but those dates are subject to revision when the commission meets again in May.

Fonner has surged to a level of national attention exponentially higher than usual because the coronavirus pandemic has shut down so many North American tracks; the track has been averaging more than $2 million in daily handle since the racing menu became limited in March. Fonner representatives said a new condition book for the May dates already has been written, and that Fonner plans to have three more mandatory payout days – one at the regularly scheduled end of the meet on April 29, and two more during May – for its jackpot pick five wager. Mandatory payoff days for the bet on April 7 and April 21 attracted a total of nearly $6 million in wagers.