Racing suspended across Britain until end of April over coronavirus pandemic

ALL racing in Britain is to be suspended in the wake of the coronavirus “national emergency”.
Cnoc Sion ridden by jockey David Noonan (red hat) clear a fence during the Central Roofing Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse on Monday. Picture: David Davies/PACnoc Sion ridden by jockey David Noonan (red hat) clear a fence during the Central Roofing Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse on Monday. Picture: David Davies/PA
Cnoc Sion ridden by jockey David Noonan (red hat) clear a fence during the Central Roofing Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse on Monday. Picture: David Davies/PA

Today’s meetings at Wetherby and Taunton will the last to be staged until the end of April. The announcement came hours after it was confirmed that the Grand National had been cancelled.

The formal decision was taken by Board of the British Horseracing Authority this morning based on the statements in the wake of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street statement in which he said the Government would be “no longer supporting gatherings with emergency workers”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The BHA say it took the decision to protect essential emergency services and the health and welfare of staff working in the racing industry.

Racegoers place bets with bookmakers at Southwell Racecourse. on Monday. Picture: Tim Goode/PARacegoers place bets with bookmakers at Southwell Racecourse. on Monday. Picture: Tim Goode/PA
Racegoers place bets with bookmakers at Southwell Racecourse. on Monday. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

It says racecourses and the sport have obligations to ensure the safety of participants and provide medical cover which clearly cannot be fulfilled in these circumstances.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust, who comes from North Yorkshire, said: “This is a national emergency the like of which most of us have never seen before.

“We’re a sport that is proud of its connection to rural communities and to the local businesses that support our industry. But our first duty is to the health of the public, our customers and to racing industry participants and staff so we have decided to suspend racing following the government’s latest advice.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Racing is a family and I know we will pull together over the coming days, weeks and months and support each other. By stopping racing, we can free up medical resources, doctors and ambulances, be they private sector or NHS, to assist in the national effort to fight this virus. And we can support racing industry participants and staff as they face up to the personal challenges ahead and care for their own families.

“There will be difficult months ahead for many of us. We need to focus now on ensuring that we can continue to look after our horses as the virus affects the thousands of participants and staff who dedicate their lives to caring for animals. We need to do what we can to support businesses inside and outside racing and the many people whose livelihoods depend upon this £4 billion industry.

“We are in constant contact with Government which understands the very significant consequences of this decision for jobs and businesses. We will work with them to do our best to manage the impact.”

He added: “Racing leaders will keep today’s decision under constant review and endeavour to keep all customers, participants, staff and dependent businesses informed as the situation progresses.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It effectively means that Brian Hughes will be crowned champion jump jockey – the first Northern-based rider to do so for 40 years.

However it throws the start of the 2020 Flat season into disarray – it was due to begin at Doncaster on March 28 and the first Classics are due to be run at the beginning of May.

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.