On Tuesday, April 14, the Quebec Jockey Club Board of Directors announced that the 2020 edition of the $200,000 Prix d'Été has been cancelled.

The QJC made the announcement via press release, which in part states that the QJC is “announcing today our decision to cancel the 2020 Prix d'Été race. The travel of horses coming mainly from the United States and the fact that the event attracts a large number of spectators makes it a crowd-gathering event, which is prohibited.”

The announcement also explains that all horses nominated to the Prix d'Été will be reimbursed shortly; although, in terms of Quebec stakes payments, the QJC has opted to keep the schedule intact, as the organization is “hopeful that these events will take place in 2020.”

The contents of the announcement appear below.

2020 Prix d'Été Cancelled

Since the arrival of COVID-19, we, the Board of Directors of the Quebec Jockey Club, have made every effort to ensure the health of everyone by complying with the confinement and gathering prohibition issued by the government.

We are working on acceptable solutions to meet the needs of the industry. A request to hold closed-door races at the Hippodrome 3R was made today to the Ministry of Public Security. We are therefore awaiting their response.

However, we are announcing today our decision to cancel the 2020 Prix d'Été race. The travel of horses coming mainly from the United States and the fact that the event attracts a large number of spectators makes it a crowd-gathering event, which is prohibited.

All horses nominated in the Prix d'Été will be reimbursed shortly. As for Quebec stakes payments, we will keep the schedule intact, as we are hopeful that these events will take place in 2020. The race dates will be revised as needed.

Thank you for your understanding,

Quebec Jockey Club, Board of Directors

Depuis l’arrivée de la COVID-19, nous mettons tous nos efforts pour nous assurer de maintenir la santé de tous et chacun, en respectant les consignes de confinement et d’interdiction de rassemblement émis par le gouvernement.

Nous travaillons sur des solutions sécuritaires et acceptables dans le but de subvenir aux besoins de l’industrie. Une demande de tenir des courses à huis clos a été faite auprès du ministère de la sécurité publique. Nous sommes donc en attente de leur réponse.

Cependant, nous annonçons aujourd’hui notre décision d’annuler la course du Prix d’été 2020. Le voyagement des chevaux provenant majoritairement des États-Unis et le fait que l’événement attire toujours un grand nombre de spectateurs en fait un rassemblement de foule interdit. Tous les chevaux nominés dans le Prix d’Été seront remboursés sous peu.

Pour ce qui est des paiements de stakes québécois, nous allons garder l’horaire intact puisque nous avons bon espoir que ces événements auront lieu en 2020. Les dates de courses seront révisées au besoin.
Merci de votre compréhension,

Conseil d’administration du Club Jockey du Québec