‘Wartime spirit’ at Wetherby as Nick Rust explains reasons for racing’s shutdown

The coronavirus pandemic forced the BHA to call a halt to racing until the end of April, citing the need to “protect essential emergency services and the health and welfare of staff working in the racing industry”.

Rust, who lives in North Yorkshire, was speaking during Wetherby’s ‘behind closed doors’ meeting that saw Glencassley win the final race before racing begins a six-week shutdown at the very least.

The prevailing late afternoon gloom at the low-key meeting matched the doom enveloping racing – and the rest of the country – as participants consider the impact of Covid-19 on the finances. Only the sound of hooves broke the silence and sense of foreboding.

“It went as well as could be expected. Everybody was very understanding – there were no rows about tickets or anything, there was a bit of a wartime spirit about it,” said Wetherby chief executive Jonjo Sanderson.

“There was a very eerie feel to the place and you could certainly hear Dianne Sayer shouting home her winner (Oceanus) in the first! Theoretically we will lose at least three meetings, but there are two more after that which you would have to think are in doubt, so it could be five realistically.

“The end of April sounds very close to me, that as a nation, we can be up and down that curve in time to start racing again.

“The amount of people this will affect within the industry does not bear thinking about and with no racing to bet on, there’ll be no money going in the Levy – we’ve just no way of knowing how this will pan out.

“For instance, I was up at Mark Johnston’s the other day and he employs 120 people. Now, as he says, he’s lucky enough to have Darley behind him, but all those horses need exercising still, but they can’t earn any prize money.”

With jockeys self-employed – and trainers still having to employ stable staff to care for horses – the aforementioned Rust accepts the seriousness of the situation.

Like many, he will also be hoping the £330bn of emergency loans set out by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will filter through to the racing industry and wider rural community.

“When everything is going right, we employ 17,000 people in racing and another 50,000 or so whose income derives mainly from the sport,” he stressed.

In light of social distancing and the need for public services on racecourses, Rust felt there was no option but to suspend racing. “We are taking the right action to keep people safe,” he said.

“We will make the point to Government that many people rely on his industry for employment, it contributes around £4bn to the economy. It generates that in employment and economic income, so we need the Government to consider the scale of our industry and help support us through this period.

“We took the decision for the right reasons, for the public services, but we are acutely aware of the situation within our industry.”

Arena Racing Company’s chief executive Martin Cruddace believes the suspension of racing will have “huge ramifications” for the sport.

ARC’s 16 racecourses, including Doncaster where the 2020 Flat season had been due to begin on Saturday week.

Cruddace said: “We will now look to take every step to support our employees, the business and our partners in the betting industry.”

However trainers accepted Monday night’s decision to cancel next month’s Grand National – even though lost betting revenue, totalling hundreds of millions, will blow another hole in racing’s finances.

Ted Walsh, victorious with Papillon 20 years ago, was due to saddle the leading contender Any Second Now.

“There are a lot more important things in this world,” ventured the Irish-based trainer. “Racing will survive. When it comes down to it, the welfare of mankind is a hell of a lot more important than racing.”

Lucinda Russell’s One For Arthur became only the second Scottish-trained winner of the Grand National when triumphing in 2017 – and was due to attempt to line up next month. “I think everyone is feeling a bit flat, and more than anything I just find it really sad,” she said.

Definitly Red was considered a major contender for the race by Brian Ellison. “It’s very disappointing, because we’ve been training the horse for the National all year,” said the Malton trainer.

The race was due to have seen Tiger Roll attempt to become the first horse in history to win three successive Nationals.

But – in one glimmer – the horse’s trainer Gordon Elliott suggested that his Aintree legend will be aimed at the 2021 renewal.

“There is every chance of him competing,” he said.

“He hasn’t got that many miles on the clock, and we will be training him back for the Grand National again.”