Waldrop: Racing can 'distinguish itself' amid COVID-19 pandemic

As most American tracks continue to run without spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while others opt to go dark, industry officials are lining up behind the idea that it's important for racing to carry on as best it can.

With other major sports on hiatus, racing has an opportunity to "sell itself to a new audience," National Thoroughbred Racing Association President and CEO Alex Waldrop said in a teleconference Tuesday afternoon. "This is a time for racing to distinguish itself."

But he made those remarks with an abundance of caution for horsemen: "If you're going to do this, you've got to be responsible and ... take care of the individuals on the racetrack."

Waldrop also commended Keeneland for deciding to cancel its spring meet, saying that was a responsible step made after considering the community transmission of the coronavirus in Central Kentucky. He likewise lauded the track's decision to sharply limit who has access to the track and to check the temperature of all who enter the facility.

Overall, Waldrop said, "I think the racetracks and horsemen are taking the challenge seriously."

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Trainer Mark Casse agreed that racing without fans is the best option for the industry.

"If everything's planned out, it can be just as exciting," he said during the NTRA teleconference. "... You're still going to have great events."

He also noted the opportunity facing the industry. "If we can (conduct racing) in a safe manner, it's great. It gives people something to do ... and we might get a few new racing fans."

Racing with no spectators is "definitely not as rewarding," Casse said, "but it's a necessity right now, so we're getting through it."

Casse agrees with Churchill Downs' decision to postpone the Kentucky Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5 so fans can attend. The Triple Crown opener "would just not be the same" without its usual crowd of 100,000-plus.

Racing will take a hit from the pandemic, Casse said, but racing without fans can limit the impact.

"It's important to get racing going as fast as we can, and if that means racing with no fans, then we can work with that."

Even though Churchill is taking a different approach by postponing its big race this year, CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a separate teleconference that "it's worked pretty well" for the tracks that have been able to continue hold races.

"Horse racing, there's a whole community that supports these horses, and there's a whole infrastructure and purse structure and economy around these events," he said. "So the fact that some tracks have been able to safely conduct horse racing while maintaining social distancing has been a nice thing.

"So much of the wagering activity for the industry happens online that it's worked pretty well. It's been a good way of addressing the issues that we see with social distancing and the virus."

Carstanjen continued: "If the state, city and local authorities in (a) jurisdiction think that horse racing can be conducted safely with respect to all the patrons and with respect to the community, certainly it's good for the industry and its good for the fans, so many of whom are participating through online.

"But safety comes first, and being a good community partner comes first," he said. "Those are the hurdles that need to be addressed before it makes sense to even think about the logistics of holding horse racing."