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The harness racing season has been stopped dead in its tracks by coronavirus restrictions, leaving race tracks in Bangor and Scarborough closed for the foreseeable future, WABI-TV reports.
Hollywood Casino General Manager Austin Muchemore said that Bangor Raceway will remain closed until “it is approved by the state to re-open.”
[Our COVID-19 tracker contains the most recent information on Maine cases by county]
Scarborough Downs Harness Race Track of Scarborough will also remain closed until cleared to resume business, according to its website.
The season typically runs from May to December in Maine. No cases of horses infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus, the animal strain of COVID-19, have been reported, Maine Harness Racing Commission Executive Director Henry Jennings said.
A “substantial number of unofficial laboratory tests” in several countries have found cases of horses having the illness, including those who were exhibiting respiratory symptoms. The tests were run as part of efforts to “fine tune” a commercial veterinary test for the virus, Jenning said in a statement.
Hollywood Casino has been closed since March 16, when the virus began to draw widespread attention.
Watch: Janet Mills outlines her plan to reopen
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