Racing resuming in South Africa from Friday rests on the South African government responding to the National Horseracing Authority’s (NHA) plan for the return of the sport in the nation.
The NHA had submitted a plan on April 22, outlining the justifications for resumption, which was later escalated to government ministers and the National Coronavirus Command Council on Sunday evening to be reviewed. A decision is expected to be reached within the next 48 hours.
NHA Chief Executive Vee Moodley said: “We understand the anxiousness, uncertainty and fluid nature of the circumstances. The outcome will be disseminated as soon as we receive it. For now, our fate lies in the hands of the government.”
Gredley donates £50,000 to coronavirus fund
Prominent owner Bill Gredley has made a donation of £50,000 to Newmarket’s Covid-19 Fund to help local residents during the ongoing coronavirus situation.
Gredley, whose colours have been carried to victory by the likes of User Friendly, Big Orange and Pretty Pollyanna, made the donation through his company The Unex Group to a fund organised by Newmarket Festival.
Newmarket Festival is a community group that works with the town council as well as the likes of the Jockey Club, the Racing Centre and Godolphin.
Mark Edmonson, Chair of Newmarket Festival, told the Racing Post: “It will make an enormous difference to our work, particularly as we don’t know how long we’ll have to do it for. It will require a lot of funding if we have to budget until June.
“His [Gredley’s] donation could be the difference between some people having hot food or not. It will touch so many lives and is absolutely fantastic.”
