Britain’s racing leaders will talk next week and review the plan for racing to resume with the government’s lockdown restrictions set to be extended.
Racing was suspended on March 18 until the end of April and the industry’s COVID-19 group, which was formed before the suspension began, is continuing to work on a framework that would enable racing to be ready to resume on a daily basis in a phased and controlled way.
The initial phase of that plan will ensure opportunities exist for horses to race under strictly controlled locations which meet the criteria being established, and not until approved by the BHA board and government.
On Thursday, the British government indicated there would be no lifting of the lockdown measures, which started on March 23, that currently ban public gatherings of more than two people.
Richard Wayman, the BHA’s Chief Operating Officer, 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 continue. 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.”
