Santa Anita announced on Saturday that jockeys will no longer be permitted on the backstretch as of Monday, in an effort to reduce the number of people present during morning training.

The announcement was made in a text message issued late Saturday morning.

"In an effort to minimize peronal interaction and get us back to racing, jockeys will be asked to stay out of the backside," the message read, in part.

In addition jockey's agents have been told to stay off the property and conduct business by phone, the message stated.

Jockeys based at Santa Anita typically work horses on a regaular basis, particularly those that are nearing a race.

Santa Anita was closed on Friday by order of the Los Angeles county health department because of the coronavirus outbreak. The announcement was made approximately 35 minutes before the first race.

No racing was held on Saturday. Track officials are hoping to implement further changes that will allow for a resumption of racing in the near future.

For a period of five racing days from March 14-22, racing was conducted without spectators. Horse owners were banned from attending on the weekend of March 20-22.