France Introduces Mandatory COVID-19 Tests for Jockeys
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Christophe Soumillon missed Breeders' Cup mounts after testing positive for COVID-19
Jockeys riding in France will have to undergo regular tests for COVID-19 from next week as authorities seek to maintain racing's reputation for operating safely behind closed doors.
Three high-profile riders have been ruled out of action in recent days following positive tests, with both Christophe Soumillon and Ioritz Mendizabal missing winning rides at the Breeders' Cup and Cristian Demuro also currently self-isolating.
From Nov. 19 all riders will be required to have tested negative within a period of 10 days. Any jockey that returns a positive result will subsequently need to undergo blood analysis proving the presence of coronavirus antibodies before being allowed to resume.
In addition all jockeys will need to complete a health questionnaire from Nov. 16.
Soumillon passed his pre-flight tests in France and traveled to Kentucky, only to then register a positive which ruled him out of the rides on both shock FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) winner Order of Australia and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) heroine Tarnawa.
Mendizabal gave up the chance of a first trip to the Breeders' Cup to maintain his partnership with Maker's Mark Breeders' cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Audarya after testing positive a week earlier.
Demuro was due to ride in Milan Nov. 8 and took a voluntary PCR test at home and, although he has remained asymptomatic, has stood himself down.
Proof of a recent COVID-19 negative is not a mandatory requirement for jockeys in Britain or Ireland, although testing before and after a trip abroad is part of the required protocols under the two countries' elite sporting exemptions.
Shane Crosse missed the Pretemps St. Leger (G1) winning ride aboard Galileo Chrome after contracting the virus, while two more Irish jockeys, brothers Danny and Mikey Sheehy, also spent time out after testing positive.
In Britain, the Professional Jockeys Association's president for flat racing, P.J. McDonald, stood himself down from riding for a day in September when one of his children showed symptoms.