While many industry personnel are eager to continue racing behind closed doors during the coronavirus, one of America’s best jockey Manny Franco has revealed he will not race until the pandemic is under control.
In a stance that has divided industry opinion, the star hoop will not take any risks as his country leads the world for contraction and death rates of the coronavirus pandemic.
Fresh off the back of a stunning Group 1 victory aboard Tiz The Law in the Group 1 Florida Derby, jockey Manny Franco is also Aqueduct’s leading rider – a racetrack which has since been turned into a makeshift hospital in New York to cope with the overflow of patients who are suffering from the virus.
Franco, who has a two-year-old child said in good conscience he could not put his young family at risk as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc throughout the United States.
Speaking to The Bloodhorse in the US, jockey Manny Franco declared he would put his family ahead of his career.
“I spoke to my agent (Angel Cordero Jr.) and said that after the Florida Derby, I will stay home with my girlfriend and (2-year-old) daughter until New York opens again for racing. I don’t want to put pressure on them by being away,” Franco said.
New York City remains the epicentre of COVID-19 with more than 300,000 confirmed cases. It is also the state in which Franco and his partner reside.
Tiz The Law was considered favourite leading into the G1 Kentucky Derby, however that race has been pushed back to September 5, the Triple Crown also requiring a calendar reshuffle.
“I’m hoping everything goes back to normal soon, and we’ll see where he takes me,” Franco said about the multiple grade 1 winner.
“He came out of the Florida Derby well, and we’ll see what’s next. That was an impressive performance. I’m really happy he came back and ran like that. I have confidence in him. I love that horse, and we get along well together. He has a lot of talent.”
Belmont is scheduled to start on April 24 but is likely to be pushed out further as America grapples with the rapid spread of the disease.
Japan, Hong Kong and Australia are still racing and Sweden’s racing association today announced that it would trial racing again starting next week, however most racing jurisdictions around the world have been forced to adjourn.
New York’s Aqueduct closed, returns as marketshift hospital for coronavirus pandemic
