Fair Grounds Cancels Rest of Meet After Louisiana Derby

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will wrap up its race meet early following the March 21 card highlighted by the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), the racing office confirmed.

Trainers received a text message Saturday morning regarding the cancellation that read, "Due to the COVID-19 outbreak TODAY, March 21 will be the conclusion of our 2019-2020 meet."

Following the conclusion of Saturday's card and Wells Bayou's victory in the Louisiana Derby, the last race, Fair Grounds said in a release: 

"In accordance with the 'stay-home' order issued by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, following public health concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Grounds Race Course will suspend live racing operations effective immediately. The Fair Grounds Thoroughbred Racing Season was originally scheduled to run through March 29.

"Fair Grounds Race Course remains focused on the safety of members of the backside community who are vital to ensuring the care of the horses. In compliance with the Louisiana Racing Commission's emergency order, we are committed to facilitating their safe and customary movement to tracks outside of New Orleans."

Trainer Bret Calhoun was understanding of the situation and the health concerns but was also worried that a lack of racing could put some trainers "out of business."

"Obviously we all need to race, but we get it. We know and appreciate the health risks and that horses have to be cared for," said Calhoun who was fifth in wins at the meet (22) through March 20 and had six horses entered on Sunday's card. "Unfortunately, it's probably going to put a lot of trainers out of business. It's going to hurt everyone—owners, racetrack operators, grooms. Everybody is going to get hurt badly financially, but so is everyone else in the world."

The Louisiana State Racing Commission on March 20 via teleconference yielded passage of an emergency order, largely protecting horsemen's rights in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new regulation, effective immediately and spanning 30 days, allows horsemen and horses to shelter in place without threat of eviction; orders adequate access to tracks and exercise facilities at least every other day; allows for the customary movement of horsemen in accordance with meet and training schedules, regardless of whether a meet is underway; and implements the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's recommendations in response to COVID-19 that were issued March 18.

Fair Grounds concluded its meet without spectators, as it previously announced March 13 that racing would continue behind closed doors. 

Where Fair Grounds horses, jockeys, and horsemen will compete next is in flux. Keeneland, which canceled its spring race meeting, had been a track at which some Fair Grounds horses and horsemen would race after the meet.

Calhoun said he has 50 horses stabled at Fair Grounds and is uncertain of plans for them.

"Thankfully we got relief the other day by being allowed to stay here for 30 days. We were supposed to move into Churchill Downs March 31 and I'm pretty sure that's not happening. We're monitoring the situation and then we'll decide what to do. We'll sit tight for now. I'm guessing we're all going to be taking a break before too long."

Jockeys that have ridden at Fair Grounds may find Oaklawn Park off-limits. Even prior to the cancellation of the Fair Grounds meet, Fair Grounds jockey Florent Geroux distributed via social media a statement attributed to Oaklawn that put restrictions on out-of-town riders, particularly those coming from the New Orleans track. The statement, dated as effective March 19, said that only out-of-town jockeys coming to ride stakes races would be permitted as temporary day-of additions to its regular colony, and "any jockey who has been riding regularly at Fairgrounds will not be allowed at Oaklawn for the remainder of the season." The statement added that "any jockey riding at Oaklawn who goes to Fairgrounds for a riding engagement will not be allowed to ride back at Oaklawn for a minimum of 12 days and will be subject to increased medical protocols."

The statement did not specify the reason for the additional restrictions on Fair Grounds jockeys, though New Orleans has been hard hit from COVID-19. By 2 p.m. CT Saturday, the city of New Orleans reported 352 cases of COVID-19, 12 resulting in death.

These regulations could affect a number of riders, including Ricardo Santana Jr., the leading jockey at Oaklawn, who came to Fair Grounds Saturday to ride the rich Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) day program.

A telephone message left for Oaklawn Park general manager Wayne Smith, seeking comment on the new protocols, was not immediately returned.

Additional reporting by Bob Ehalt.