Jockeys, Agents Banned From Santa Anita Backstretch

Jockeys and their agents will not be permitted on the Santa Anita Park backstretch for the foreseeable future in an effort to minimize the number of people at the Southern California track during morning training, according to a message distributed to horsemen March 28.

The announcement comes in the wake of a Los Angeles County Health Department shutdown of racing at the Southern California track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CROSBY & KING: Health Department Order Suspends Racing at Santa Anita

"In an effort to minimize personal interaction and get us back to racing beginning Monday 3/30, jockeys will be asked to stay out of the backside," read the message, which was sent to horsemen Saturday morning. "Jockey agents will be required to stay off the property and conduct all business by phone."

While the main part of their profession is carried out during the afternoons, some jockeys ride horses for trainers during morning workouts, especially leading up to a race.

Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of The Jockeys' Guild, said their West Coast representative, Darrell Haire, has been reaching out to riders at Santa Anita to communicate the restriction.

"Most of the jocks are willing to work and want to work," he said. "We want to make sure that everyone is protected and they are protected."

He said his membership is "doing everything we can to have racing."

Racing at Santa Anita had been conducted without spectators since March 14, with the track even going so far as to ban owners from attending the races March 20-22, before it was halted March 27.

Jockey agents have also been banned from the backside of Oaklawn Park in Arkansas until further notice, according to a Friday announcement from the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.