Coronavirus - Dante Festival in doubt as York Racecourse offer rooms to NHS staff

NHS workers are being given free use of stable staff hostel accommodation at York Racecourse as the sport comes to terms with growing ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic.
York's Dante Festival is now in doubt (Picture:  PA)York's Dante Festival is now in doubt (Picture:  PA)
York's Dante Festival is now in doubt (Picture: PA)

The track’s gesture of goodwill comes after the course’s buildings on the Knavesmire were effectively closed – with May’s season-opening Dante meeting now in extreme doubt as the country goes into lockdown.

There is growing consent that racing may not resume until the second half of the year, with a much revised fixture list to ensure the Classics – which are integral to the breeding of thoroughbreds – do still go ahead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

More immediately, the award-winning venue had been preparing for its busiest ever April in terms of non-raceday events such as corporate activities and evening functions.

York Racecourse chief executive William Derby.York Racecourse chief executive William Derby.
York Racecourse chief executive William Derby.

“It’s gone to zero in the space of a week,” lamented chief executive William Derby.

However, while he says that the whole of racing accepts the scale of the global emergency, he is pleased that the course’s hostel for stable staff is being utilised by doctors, nurses and NHS support staff.

Up to 11 NHS workers were booked in last night to a facility that stable staff have described as one of the best in the country when they have to stay at 
York overnight for the big meetings.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Derby says the racecourse – and city of York – is standing “shoulder to shoulder” with health workers and that it was important to provide such accommodation this week after hotels were shut down on the Government’s orders.

Trainer Ruth Carr.Trainer Ruth Carr.
Trainer Ruth Carr.

And even though most staff have been put on ‘furlough’ – the special scheme that will see the Treasury incur 80 per cent of salary costs – the racetrack’s plumber has been put at the disposal of the NHS in case staff need emergency repairs at their homes.

Yet, on the racing front, Derby says the course is awaiting the outcome of discussions that are taking place on a daily basis between the British Horseracing Authority and the sport’s stakeholders.

Racing – like most sports – remains on hold until the end of April, with Derby saying that the BHA was waiting “for a steer” from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Being pragmatic and realistic, there is a huge doubt about whether life will return to normal in May,” added Derby, who reiterated the desire to enforce social distancing protocols, not increase the pressures on the NHS and keep unnecessary travel to an absolute minimum.

Horses on the gallops at Middleham yesterday.Horses on the gallops at Middleham yesterday.
Horses on the gallops at Middleham yesterday.

Meanwhile, Ruth Carr has closed her yard during the current coronavirus outbreak and hopes the measure is “short-term pain for long-term gain”.

Carr’s Mowbray House Farm near York would usually be gearing up for the start of the new Flat season, but she has taken the painful decision to take all of her 55 horses out of training with the backing of her owners.

“All my owners are happy for me to do what I think is best in the situation we find ourselves in,” said Carr. “At this stage, I can’t see us resuming in May. The horses are still getting full care and attention, they are out in a field enjoying the sun, but by doing this I’m reducing the footfall into the yard massively.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I just feel that I’m doing my bit. I don’t like to train – especially older horses – without a goal. They know their job and training puts miles on them physically and it’s not great for them mentally.

“If I reduce the fees to the owners, then hopefully they can look after me long term. If I can look after my business and my team by using the Government’s generous scheme with the staff getting 80 per cent of the wages, then I will utilise that.

“We have to think of people working in the hospitals, on the front line, and people that are going to lose loved ones.

“For all that racing is a 
very big industry, sometimes you just have to see the bigger picture.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carr stresses the welfare of the horses will not suffer. “The horses are getting fed well, four times a day, they are happy in the field and it’s part of their normal routine anyway – they are just not doing any formal exercise and they aren’t being ridden. Because they aren’t being ridden, we can reduce the footfall,” she added.

“For all you try hard to disinfect everything – every sweeping brush, every muck barrow, every feed scoop, every gate, every light switch – the list is endless. People would come to the yard and mix with their families, by stopping that I feel I’m doing my part.

“I’m looking at it as short-term pain for long-term gain, that’s my new catchphrase! The sooner we all realise this, the sooner we’ll be out the other side and we can enjoy our days at the races and the other things in life we’ve all become accustomed to.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.