Racing News
Live Racing Resumed June 15, 2021
Georgian Downs is excited to announce that
live harness racing resumed on Tuesday, June
15, 2021. The racing season will remain unchanged from
last season with first race post time on Tuesdays and Saturdays set for
7:15 p.m. Sunday will also remain unchanged and will go postward at 6:00
p.m.
Training will be available Wednesday, June
9th, Thursday, June 10th and Friday, June 11th from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00
noon. Once the live racing schedule begins training days will be Thursday
and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon beginning Thursday, June 17th and
continue through to the end of August. Qualifiers will once again be
scheduled for Saturdays at 5:30 p.m.
Important
Notice: Although spectators will not be permitted to attend our live
racing at Georgian Downs, fans are invited to take in all the excitement
that Georgian Downs has to offer by watching Live
Video. Free PDF Programs are also
available. Georgian Downs will be available for wagering through
HPIBET.COM and via all of its simulcast
partners locations worldwide.
Ontario Racing Enhanced Racing Covid Protocols (as of June 2021)
Georgian
Downs will be conducting live racing under strict COVID-19 racing
protocols. These base protocols have been developed in collaboration with
our horse people associations,
public health
officials,
Ontario
Racing
and
our
various
governing
bodies. All personnel, including Owners,
Trainers, Drivers and Grooms, attending Georgian Downs Racetrack are
required to ask themselves the following questions prior to entering the
property and confirm this action via EITHER ONE of these two forms:
1. Online questionnaire:
https://questionnaire.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=544a5b8a-1ac2-46dd-b4cc-8d2dd27e3bbe
2. QR code within this PDF document: GD Racing Protocols
Note: At no time will spectators be
allowed on the premises (until further notice).
1. Are you sick, ill and/or
have any symptoms related to COVID-19? Note: The Government of Ontario has
identified the following as COVID-19 related symptoms: fever or chills,
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat,
trouble swallowing, runny/stuffy nose or nasal congestion, decrease or
loss of smell or taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, not
feeling well, extreme tiredness, and /sore muscles.
2. Have you had
close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
3. Have you or anyone you live with travelled outside of Canada within
the past 14 days?
4. Have you been instructed by local health
authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history br
5. Is
anyone you live with currently experiencing any new COVID-19 symptoms and
/or waiting for test results after experiencing symptoms?
Any person who answers “yes” to any of the five (5) questions above, or who is displaying visible signs of illness consistent with COVID-19 exposure, will be denied access to the track.
Access to the Paddock:
• Only essential personnel for the conduct of training, qualifiers or live
racing will be granted access into the backstretch perimeter as determined
by posted security personnel.
• There will be the only one point of
entry for all racetrack Staff, Regulatory Officials and Racing
Participants.
• Only Trainers with an entry will be permitted, unless
entering a claim that night. Each entry shall have a maximum of one
handler.
• No one under the age of 16 shall be permitted in the
paddock.
Post times to be communicated from Race Office. Races will
be spaced at a minimum of 25-minute intervals. All horses must report to
the Paddock as prescribed by the rules of racing as published by the AGCO.
Access will only be granted after a mandatory pre-screening that will
include:
• Presentation of applicable AGCO credentials.
•
Evidence of a temperature below 100.5 degrees determined by a No Touch
Forehead Thermometer.
• Evidence of possession of a personal protective
face mask.
• Evidence of possession of a functioning mobile phone
device.
• Satisfactory completion of a Covid questionnaire/active
screening.
• Providing participants name, e-mail/phone contact.
While in the Paddock:
Racing participants are instructed to get in and get out quickly and
efficiently. Horses shall be placed in the paddock to ensure physical
distancing is being practiced and all available paddock space will be
utilized as well as adjacent stall areas. Masks are mandatory at all
times, medical masks recommended for Racing Participants. It is strongly
recommended Racing Participants also wear gloves when coming into contact
with frequently touched areas such as water taps, cross ties and door
latches.
• Given the warmer weather, racetracks should keep
entrance doors and windows open for ventilation purposes.
• Handlers of
all horses must ensure they are keeping the appropriate distance from
other handlers of horses in their respective areas.
• All horses and
associated handlers must leave the paddock half an hour following their
race, unless the handler is tending to horses in a later race. Horses who
have been post-race tested may leave the paddock 45 minutes following
their race.
• The drivers locker room, lounge and showers shall remain
closed. Drivers are to wear face masks, gloves and social distance at all
times, except when racing. Upon the completion of the driver’s last race
of the day, he/she should leave the paddock immediately after notifying
the Paddock Judge.
• All Communications should be carried out
electronically where possible to limit in person contact. There shall be
no loitering in or around the entrance to the paddock, all COVID-19
protocols on physical distancing shall be adhered to.
• The AGCO
judge’s office in the backstretch will be closed. Contact with the AGCO
Judges during a live event will only be through individual mobile phones.
• Shared communication devices are prohibited. In person communication
with racing participants will be at the discretion of the designated AGCO
judge.
• Paddock kitchens will not be available.
• The Paddock shall
be disinfected after each racing, qualifying & training day. Sanitizing
stations will be placed throughout the Paddock.
Lasix and CPMA Test Barn Procedures:
• There shall be no loitering in or at the entrance to the test area.
•
For pre-race Lasix all handlers must either be outside in an open area
practicing physical distancing or waiting in their vehicle until it is
time for their horse to report to the Paddock to race.
• Following each
race, 2 horses shall be tested. Blood shall be drawn on all test horses
after 40 minutes if the horse is unable to provide a urine sample. Track
security personnel shall be stationed outside of the test area to ensure
all horses and their handlers are entering and exiting the test area in an
appropriate fashion.
• Security will also supply anyone entering the
test barn a new mask.
• Physical distancing to be practiced at all
times. When entering the test barn with a horse, attend the opposite side
of the horse away from the technician or follow other local protocols in
place.
• Remain vigilant and respectful of the Racing Forensic
Technicians at all times.
• Hands sanitized on the way in and way out
of the test area.
Track
Maintenance/Starting Gate Vehicles:
• All maintenance vehicle cabins are to be disinfected at the start and
end of each use.
• No vehicle will accommodate more than one operator
and no employee will crossover any assigned vehicle for that event.
•
The starting gate vehicle shall be sanitized and cleaned daily.
• Where
there is a passenger either in the back seat or passenger seat of the
starting gate, a plexi-glass partition shall be installed to maintain
proper segregation from the starting gate driver.
• All track vehicle
operators will wear medical masks at all times.
• Access to the track
maintenance area is strictly prohibited to anyone other than the track
maintenance personnel.
Positive
Covid Test:
In the event that the
racetrack becomes aware that a person who has tested positive for COVID
has attended the track, the track in consultation with Public Health will
notify all employees and participants who may have been exposed to the
affected individual. The track will ensure that the infected person does
not re-enter the premises until the person is able to provide evidence of
a negative test and clearance from a doctor to return to work. All
individuals with potential contact with an infected individual will need
to provide evidence of a negative test.
·Download a PDF version of these protocols: GD Racing Protocols
Legend
- SC - Standardbred Canada site (link will open in new window)
- YT - YouTube site (link will open in a new window)