Jockeys Riding In Kentucky Derby May Be Required To Arrive In State By Aug. 24

Any jockey expecting to ride in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 or Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 must arrive in Kentucky by Aug. 24, according to Churchill Downs’ proposed regulations first reported by Horse Racing Nation. Track president Kevin Flanery said the rule is still under consideration during a conference call with horsemen on Monday afternoon.

All riders, not just those shipping in from out of state, must pass two separate coronavirus tests, one by 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24, and a second by noon on Monday, Aug. 31. Jockeys testing positive will be required to quarantine for 10 days, the report states.

In addition, all individuals with access to the jockeys’ room will be required to test by Aug. 31.

“Part of things we’re grappling with is they are coming from jurisdictions where a recommended 14-day quarantine is in place,” Flanery said. “We’re trying to balance that with the (Kentucky authorities) who allow us to move forward, trying to take their counsel and incorporate that into what we’re doing. I’m going to be very realistic. We’re trying to figure out what the safest way to do it is, and there will be disagreements and differing opinions with regard to that.”

Jockeys will miss two weeks of racing leading up to the Kentucky Derby weekend, and may also miss two weeks afterward depending on quarantine requirements in their home state. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith are among those arguing against the early arrival, according to the Thoroughbred Daily News.

“What they’re asking us to do seems very difficult to do,” said Smith. “You’re going to have to be there 10 days out. I’d rather be somewhere where I feel safer and just fly in, test and ride. This way, I think you have more of a chance of picking it up, being outside of your house and having to go out to eat. I’m not saying I won’t be riding at Churchill. It’s just that this is going to be really difficult.”

“I hope they are still working on this and just threw this out there,” Baffert said. “To me, they’re playing with fire bringing them in there 10 days before. That gives them a chance to get sick. Let them come in like Monmouth Park did for the Haskell. They went to a place there and got tested and within 15 minutes they got their results. It seems to me that they should let them come in, test them, let them ride and then let them get out of there. That is as long as they come in there with a negative test. I told Kevin Flannery that this was a bad idea. If they wanted to do all this they should have just run the race in May.”