Colonial Downs Cancels After Positive COVID-19 Test

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Photo: Coady Photography
Horses on the track at Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs announced Aug. 11 that it canceled its Tuesday and Wednesday cards following the news that jockey Trevor McCarthy had tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. 

In a story first reported by the Daily Racing Form, McCarthy's agent Scott Silver said the jockey, who currently sits atop the jockey standings at the Virginia track, was taken off his mounts Aug. 9 and 10 after he reported experiencing "flu-like symptoms" late Saturday night. Silver added that McCarthy had attempted, but was unable to, access COVID-19 testing on Monday. Once he was tested on Tuesday, the jockey returned a positive result for the virus. 

Silver said that McCarthy's symptoms had dissipated enough on Tuesday that he would have resumed riding had the same-day test come back negative. It is unclear how long McCarthy will have to be under quarantine before he is allowed to resume riding. 

Aside from the decision to cancel two days of racing, Colonial Downs has yet to announce how it will proceed following a positive result on the grounds. In a mass text sent to horsemen on Tuesday, the track did say that they were awaiting guidance from the Virginia Department of Health before taking any further action.

Jockey agent Liz Morris posted the text announcement from Colonial Downs on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. 

"Colonial Downs: As a result of a jockey in the Colonial colony testing positive today for COVID-19 we are canceling racing for tonight (8/11) and tomorrow (8/12)," read the Tweet. "We are awaiting further guidance from the Department of Health."

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there are currently 101,745 reported cases of COVID-19 in the State as of Aug. 11. A total of 97,712 of those reported cases have been confirmed, while the additional 4,033 are considered probably cases. 

The 2020 Colonial Downs meet began July 27 and has already canceled two days of racing due to weather conditions. The July 17 opening-night card was canceled due to extreme heat and the Aug. 4 card was canceled due to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Isaias.