Lone Star Approved for Two Additional Race Dates
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Photo: Dustin Orona Photography
Horses race on the turf at Lone Star Park
The Texas Racing Commission approved July 21 two extra Thoroughbred race dates for Lone Star Park. The racetrack near Dallas recently lost nearly eight whole race days after a racing operations employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Lone Star was granted the requested dates of Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, the first two Wednesdays of next month, for its Thoroughbred meet. The track was originally slated to conduct a 44-day meet April 16-Aug. 11, but did not get underway until May 22 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One race was run July 5 before the rest of the card was canceled following news of the racing operations employee testing positive. The next seven race cards were also canceled. Lone Star was able to resume racing July 19.
"This, if the commission approves those dates today, would mean the number of days run in total would be 36, plus one race on July 5," Kent Slabotsky, Lone Star's vice president of operations, said during the virtual meeting. "We will try our best to card 10 or 11 races on as many of the remaining days as we can. This will probably result in some short fields but we feel it is best."
Lone Star began its meet without spectators, but allowed them back June 14. Current protocols permitting attendees require face coverings, temperature checks, and social distancing.