Santa Anita sent out a text to horsemen on Wednesday stating the track will put out a condition book on Thursday that targets a resumption for live racing on May 15.
The Arcadia, Calif. track has not raced since March 22 due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Southern California.
The letter that is signed by Santa Anita Executive Director of California Racing Aiden Butler, reads: “Santa Anita will be issuing a condition book on Thursday April 30, targeting May 15 for the resumption of live racing under strict protocols, including the exclusion of spectators. This coincides with the expiration of LA County’s current Safer-At-Home order and following California Governor Gavin Newsome’s comments on Tuesday that the state could begin to relax the current COVID-19 restrictions in the next two weeks.”
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Santa Anita put together a plan that was sent to Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and was discussed in an April 16 conference call.
“The schedule is predicated on conditions continuing to improve in Southern California, said Butler. “The plan put in place to operate Santa Anita during this crisis will create a Shelter in Place environment while safeguarding both the horses and the people who care for them. There will be no additional risk to the 750 people who currently live onsite or to the community at large.”
Among the additional restrictions in the proposal was a requirement to house participating jockeys on track. In addition, no spectators would be permitted to watch and wager on racing. Los Alamitos has been operating its spring quarter horse-thoroughbred meet with a similar no spectator policy.