Below is a letter from Alex Waldrop, NTRA President and CEO. The NTRA’s site has many helpful links to alert horsemen of various issues related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Access is available at www.ntra.com/covid-19/ 

NTRA Update on Federal Response to Coronavirus Pandemic
March 26, 2020

Like virtually every other industry and sport, U.S. horseracing is grappling with the realities and uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of businesses and individuals – from farms to racetrack employees, trainers,… Continue reading →

At a time when everyone is seeking signs of a return to normalcy in the months ahead, Colonial Downs, in conjunction with the New Kent Fire Department and Virginia Department of Forestry, conducted a controlled burn of its Secretariat Turf Course Monday.

Monday’s controlled burn at Colonial Downs began in the far turn.

The burn began at 4 PM under sunny skies and breezy conditions. This annual burn helps prepare and nurture the country’s widest grass racing surface for a… Continue reading →

With the annual Virginia Breeders Awards ceremony and Virginia Gold Cup Races pushed back to the weekend of June 19-20 at Great Meadow, we thought announcing a 2019 award winner each day over 14 consecutive days would be a nice way to bring good news to the Commonwealth’s equine community.

Visit this site often through April 7 — a different award winner will be revealed daily. We’ll also post it to the Virginia Thoroughbred Association’s facebook page, and a recap… Continue reading →

Colonial Downs Group, which includes the Virginia racetrack that reopened last summer and Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums at three other in-state locations, announced Wednesday that it will transition its closed restaurants to provide 20,000 free “grab and go” meals for police officers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, grocery store employees and other workers on the “front lines” of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company closed its facilities on Mar. 15. The meals will be provided starting Apr, 1, with day-before ordering… Continue reading →

The follow appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News (www.tdn.com) on March 25.

The challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic have led to new protocols for Thoroughbred breeding to minimize risk of infection among farm staff and related personnel charged with transporting and handling horses.

The Jockey Club recommends that all North American, Central American, and Caribbean Thoroughbred stud farm operations at a minimum follow guidelines from the Kentucky Department of Ag Guidelines for COVID-19: Breeding Shed Activity issued by E.S. “Rusty”… Continue reading →

The best advice at this time is to use common sense, practice social distancing, disinfect and wash your hands frequently. As the situation evolves and if and when additional information is available, it will be shared here. The best advice at this time is to use common sense, practice social distancing, disinfect and wash your hands frequently.

Tips for Equine Businesses During COVID-19

Your business is important, but your health and the health of your staff, family and clients is… Continue reading →

Dr. James Bryant and his wife Linda Davis have a 110 acre property in Kilmarnock, Virginia named Crossroads Farm and besides tending to 18 horses, they are immersed in the medical field locally and are quite busy these days given the circumstances.

Dr. James Bryant at his 110 acre farm in Kilmarnock.

Bryant is a long time physician in the area and for the past three months is giving back, serving as Medical Director of a local long term care… Continue reading →

The following appeared in Bloodhorse.com March 17, 2020.

In response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Fasig-Tipton has adjusted its 2020 Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training sales dates.
The company’s Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be Tuesday and Wednesday May 26-27 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md., eight days later than originally scheduled. The under tack show will be conducted Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 21-23.

The decision to move the sale back about one week was made after… Continue reading →