After five closures in the last 48 hours, a track in Sacramento, California, is the last to remain open of the 18 in the United States that had harness racing prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris Schick the general manager of Cal Expo harness racing, told ESPN three hours before its 6 p.m. Pacific post time Friday that its plan was to have racing without fans in attendance.
Earlier in the day, thoroughbred racing continued with no spectators at California’s Santa Anita Park and Golden Gates Field.
Tracks to suspend harness racing Friday were in Saratoga, New York, and Northfield, Ohio.
“I hate to see the closures — they will hurt a lot of people — but the nation’s priority has to be containing and stopping the spread of the virus,” Mike Tanner, CEO of the U.S. Trotting Association told ESPN.
“Our sport knows that firsthand and in a very painful way,” Tanner said, adding, “We’ll work to help be part of the solution.”
Harness racing trainers and brothers Carmine and Vincent Fusco and former trainer John Brennan have died with the virus since March 10. The Fuscos’ mother and sister also died with the virus and other siblings remain hospitalized.