The British Horseracing Authority had hoped to get the season back up and running in May, however this proved impossible following the government’s guidelines for easing the Covid-19 restrictions on top-level sporting events. As such, measures have been put in place to resume racing on June 1st and as things stand, the BHA is confident that this is achievable.
The government has provided guidelines regarding athletes resuming close-contact training, however BHA chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea made it clear that these protocols were purely for contact sports and were not relevant to horse racing.
Dunshea said: “We can’t control what decisions government make, but we’re incredibly confident and we’re working hard and planning towards June 1 being our resumption date.
“All the way through this process in our engagement with government, it has been recognised that we’re different to the other sports that are being referred to.
“We are largely a rural-based sport … Both our training and racing environments are outdoor and pose lower level of risk and position us as a very different sport to football and rugby, for example.”
The British Horseracing Authority has issued guidelines which should allow racing to resume behind closed doors on 1st and 2nd June at Newcastle.
Grand National Free Bets
The Randox Health Grand National fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic and was cancelled back in March although the bookmakers will offer a wide range of Grand National free bets for next year’s contest, while the Derby meeting has also been cancelled and Royal Ascot is set to be held without spectators.
