Coronavirus: British Horseracing Authority to review plans to restart racing behind closed doors

Racing is currently suspended until at least the end of April

Plans for a resumption of racing in Britain will be reviewed by the board of the British Horseracing Authority next week.

It was announced last month that racing would be suspended until the end of April amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the last meetings to take place in Britain being at Wetherby and Taunton on 17 March, both behind closed doors.

The Government indicated on Thursday there would be no imminent lifting of the lockdown measures that have been in place in Britain from 23 March, with the current restrictions including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people.

The sport’s Resumption of Racing Group – established by the Covid-19 Racing Industry Group – has been working with horsemen, racecourses and others on a plan to resume racing behind closed doors as soon as that becomes possible. It has already been outlined that any resumption would be phased and take place on the Flat.

Giving an update, a statement said the Resumption of Racing Group’s focus was on “establishing clear, objective criteria to assist the industry in determining how, where and under what conditions a resumption may be accepted by government. The group continues to focus on a framework that will enable racing to be ready to resume on daily basis in a phased and controlled way as soon as possible”.

It added: “The initial phase of that plan will ensure opportunities exist for horses to race under strictly controlled conditions at locations which meet the criteria being established, and not until approved by the BHA board and Government.”

Richard Wayman, chief operating officer of the BHA, said: “Everyone’s first duty at present is to the health and safety of the public, as the Government has made clear. That will clearly be the most important consideration informing their view of when it’s safe for sport to resume.

“But we continue to keep them fully informed of the lockdown’s considerable economic impact on individuals and businesses within racing, and our responsibility for the long-term prosperity and sustainability of the sport.

“We have followed Government guidance throughout this crisis. When they said it was still safe to continue mass gatherings, we continued. When they said the emergency services could no longer support mass gatherings, we stopped. Now it seems clear that – like so many other areas of leisure and business activity – sport will need the support and approval of Government to resume, even if that is behind closed doors.

“The work that’s been done to develop a resumption plan is excellent and has demonstrated that racing would be ready to resume when that becomes possible. We are liaising with Government as part of our development of a responsible, coordinated plan for the return of sport when we’re told it’s safe to do so.”​

PA