Leading British trainer John Gosden has slammed the continued suspension of horse racing throughout Britain. Telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that returning to the track will be ..
Safer than going to the petrol station or the supermarket
John Gosden
The hope is that on June 1 race tracks around Britain will reopen for racing, albeit behind closed doors with only approved industry personnel and race day staff permitted to enter.
The Resumption of Racing Group in conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority today backed a 60 page document from the UK government, titled ‘Our Plan to Rebuild’ which outlines the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 recovery strategy.
Step two of the road map – which cannot be activated any sooner than June 1, states “permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact”.
Racing has been at a standstill throughout England, Wales and Scotland since March 17 however fixtures at Wetherby and Taunton were run prior to the halt.
Asked whether or not there was excitement around a targeted return date, John Gosden was cautiously optimistic.
“Step two said June 1, that sports can occur behind closed doors from that date onwards, and we can be absolutely ready. Our horses have been training throughout the spring in this lovely weather, they’re fit and ready to run.
“In Newmarket we have had 2,500 horses training every day, socially distanced, and the great thing about our sport is it’s non contact.”
When queried about whether he would be comfortable with his staff attending racecourse amidst a worldwide pandemic, the champion trainer was adamant that the racing industry would safely be able to adhere to policies in place.
“I’m very comfortable,” he said.
“Because I’ve seen all the factors being put in and every restriction and I’d be very comfortable – I think it will be a great deal safer than going to the petrol station or the supermarket.”
An update from the Resumption of Racing Group last week said it had “demonstrated to the Government the work being done to ensure a safe and responsible return to racing.”
In that document, it included minimising risk to participants through detailed planning around strict social distancing and infection control measures.
Industry leaders have backed the government’s roadmap proposals and are committed to a June 1 timeline to allow a phased-in approach of racing to return.
John Gosden who has multiple equine athletes in play targeting the British Classics this season said this year’s season would be “fascinating”.
“It could be a fascinating Royal Ascot. If they run the Guineas at the end of the first week here in Newmarket, you could then come back with the big races at Royal Ascot, the St James’s Palace, and you could probably get a prep race in before the Ascot Gold Cup. I think it could be fascinating.”
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