It was a matter of time before the horse racing authorities in Southern California made the call. With jockey after jockey testing positive for COVD-19, the racing had to stop.
Del Mar made the prudent call Wednesday, announcing it will not race this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. And it is not only a smart move, it is the only move.
Del Mar’s Saturday card was 11 races, including the California debut of Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of 2019, in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.
Five jockeys who raced at Los Alamitos, another SoCal track, tested positive after riding there July 4. Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza has tested positive. Flavian Plat, another top jockey, has tested positive along with Umberto Rispoli, Agapito Delgadillo, and Drayden Van Dyke.
The meeting is being held without on-track customers and with a limited number of employees on-site.