British Racing is suspended after today’s announcement that racing will temporarily cease due to the Corona-19 pandemic that is sweeping the globe.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in a statement today announced a suspension of all racing effectively immediately as the Authority looks to protect itself and its participants from the spread of the Coronavirus.
Jumps meetings at Taunton and Wetherby were run without spectators in attendance prior to the suspension coming into full effect.
In a statement on Tuesday, the BHA referred to the “never seen before” circumstances necessary in order to safeguard the industry.
“This is a national emergency the like of which most of us have never seen before,” said BHA’s chief executive Nick Rust.
“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.”
At the time of writing, a total of 1,950 people have tested positive across Britain for Covid-19 from 50,442 tests with 71 deaths.
“By stopping racing, we can free up medical resources, doctors and ambulances, be they private sector or NHS (National Health Service), to assist in the national effort to fight this virus,” Rust said.
“And we can support racing industry participants and staff as they face up to the personal challenges ahead and care for their own families.”
May 1 has been forecasted as the restart date however industry participants remain adamant that racing will remain delayed for quite some time given the uncertainty around the rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
“None of us know when racing will restart,” trainer Hugo Palmer told the UK Press Association.
“I have to say, I think it’s a flight of fancy that come the first of May we will all jump out and go racing, but if that were the case, as a flat trainer, one thing people always say is that the season doesn’t get going until the Guineas.”
The first two Classics of the season – the 1000 and 2000 Guineas – are scheduled for the first weekend of May at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
The British racing suspended as the decision comes just 24 hours after The Jockey Club cancelled the Grand National meeting held on April 2-4 at Liverpool’s Aintree racecourse.
