SPRING OF SARATOGA – The Saratoga racecourse has put privacy fences on Nelson and Union avenues to prevent racing fans from congregating, and has prohibited riders from riding outside the racetrack, as part of new protocols announced on Tuesday by the New York Racing Association and the city. officials to protect the community and track personnel from the coronavirus.
The moves are part of the unusual 2020 gathering that will continue, but without the attendance of fans.
Saratoga Springs Police Chief’s Assistant John Catone, who spoke at Tuesday’s runway press conference and is a member of the city’s COVID-19 Task Force, said the situation is fluid and access by Fans, as well as the rule that affects riders, may change.
Those opportunities include the ability to let horse owners and perhaps even a handful of fans in by the end of the match. But right now, Catone said, with the track’s racing season set to begin Thursday, the main concern is that many fans are trying to catch a glimpse of the action.
“We want to make sure we don’t have any issues on the Union Avenue side or the Nelson Avenue side with fans popping up with lawn chairs and coolers, creating social distancing problems or traffic patterns.” Catone said. “We are organizing as if it were a normal meeting, so it gives us the opportunity to impose parking and social distancing to face the pandemic.”
Pat McKenna, a NYRA spokeswoman, said NYRA is ensuring the safety of the estimated 700 approved people on the track by continuing protocols in place since March in Belmont Park, including testing, masking and social distancing. NYRA is also closing the path to anyone who is not essential, including horse owners. Entrance to all NYRA properties includes door temperature controls and health questions, hand sanitizers, and contact tracking. There is also frequent cleaning of common areas.
The decision regarding the riders was to ensure that spikes of the virus, which affect other areas of the country, are not returned to Saratoga Springs. That means any rider who rode out of Saratoga, as of July 16, cannot ride in Saratoga again. Riders are also not allowed on the back leg or on the training track and must meet their horse in the paddock before proceeding to the main track.
In a statement released just before the press conference, NYRA CEO Dave O’Rourke said the ban on outside jockey is “necessary as cases continue to rise in states across the country.”
Both McKenna and Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton also encouraged fans to watch the races from home, available on Fox Sports and MSG Networks.
“We want you to enjoy the meeting this summer,” said McKenna. “But do it from the comfort of your home, your backyard, or socially detached and responsible surveillance parties … Keeping your distance will take us one step closer to our ultimate, collective goal of defeating this virus and welcoming thousands of our loyal fans. an opening day celebration like no other in 2021. “
Dalton said staying home is a “critical part” of the 40-day meeting, which ends on Labor Day.
“The city cannot allow people to come onto the track and watch races,” Dalton said. “That’s for the collective safety of the community and also to make sure we can celebrate the races this year and for years to come.”
While views of the track will be blocked, the sight lines of the Oklahoma training track, as viewed from East Avenue, have not been obscured. Since June 4, when that track opened, onlookers have gathered at the chained fence to watch the Thoroughbreds enter their morning runs.
Everyone recognized that the route is an important economic engine for the city, which according to the NYRA estimate in a normal year is responsible for $ 240 million in regional economic activity and 2,600 jobs. That’s why the city and NYRA see the role of the track as vital and will proceed cautiously for the 2020 meeting so that they never have to host a fan-free meeting again.
“We want NYRA to have a successful meeting,” said Catone. “But we don’t want to put ourselves in a position where other states are; They opened too early, they didn’t control the pandemic, and now their numbers have increased dramatically. Fortunately, we have kept our number relatively flat for weeks and months. We want it to continue that way. We don’t want to go back in closing. “
