Ontario Racing is fully committed to ensuring the health and safety of all participates by mitigating manageable risks while racing during the COVID 19 Pandemic. The following document delineates the enhanced operational policies and procedures at Ontario’s racetracks to conduct racing in a safe manner. At no time will spectators be allowed on the premises. The base protocols have been developed in collaboration with our horse people associations, public health officials, Ontario Racing and our various governing bodies. Racetracks are required to strengthen these protocols to cover local environments and situations as they occur.
Each location will be required to review protocols with and receive approval to conduct racing from the AGCO prior to beginning racing.
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.
Post times to be communicated from Race Office. 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.
- Recommendation that each participant has a functioning mobile phone device.
- Satisfactory completion of a Covid questionnaire with queries including:
1) Travel questions
2) Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
3) Contact with others with symptoms of COVID
4) Contact with others returning from any United States racetrack or Racing Association in past 21 days
5) Persons with negative responses
- Providing participants name, e-mail/phone contact
- Where a participant has travelled outside of Canada he/she must provide proof of the date of their arrival in Canada, as well as either (i)self-isolation for a period not less than 14 days upon their return, or (ii) provide a copy (or other proof) of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of arrival in Canada.
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 and medical masks are 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, racetrack personnel and Racing Officials 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.
- Opening of the drivers/jockey locker room, lounge and showers shall remain the prerogative of the local racetrack; racetracks that choose to open must ensure social distancing and regular cleaning of the area. Drivers/jockeys are to wear face masks, gloves and social distance at all times except when racing. Upon the completion of the driver’s/jockeys 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 and all COVID-19 protocols on physical distancing shall be adhered to.
- The Racing Officials’ office in the backstretch will be closed. Contact with the Racing Officials during a live event will only be through individual mobile phones. Shared communication devices are prohibited. In person communication with racing participates will be at the discretion of the designated Racing Official.
- The Paddock shall be disinfected after each racing, qualifying, and 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 maintain physical distancing or waiting in their vehicle until it is time for their horse to report to the Paddock to race.
- Following each race, horses will be selected for testing. 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 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.
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