After a two-month hiatus, harness racing in France picked back up on Tuesday (May 12) with an eight-race card at Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris.
As is the case in jurisdictions around the world, the races took place before an empty grandstand and with the barest of staffing in place for horses' care and adjudication of the events themselves.
"The professionals had received strict instructions and followed them to the letter with a minimum of staff to care for a single horse," wrote Kévin Romain of Le Parisien. "Even if discussions are going well in the stables, all respect the safety distances and the wearing of the mandatory mask."
Participants' temperatures are taken as they enter the grounds, horses' arrival times are staggered to minimize human contact, and accommodations for broadcast and administrative personnel have been implemented in order to adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.
According to a report from actu.fr, May and June stakes races have been abandoned, with the exception of the Critérium des 4 Ans, which has been rescheduled for Aug. 29.
(with files from Le Parisien and actu.fr)