HUGHES: WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Trainer: Industry cannot afford any more delays. Must be June 1 return

THE consequences will be “very worrying” if British racing does not return on June 1.

That is the warning from threetime champion jockey-turnedtrainer Richard Hughes yesterday.

After Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a partial easing to the coronavirus lockdown measures last Sunday, the British Horseracing Authority, initially hopeful of a restart in mid-may, set a new, provisional date for the sport’s comeback.

Newcastle will stage the resumption fixture a fortnight tomorrow if all goes to plan as the BHA continues to liaise with the Government.

But another delay will see owners leave the sport in their droves – with a knock-on effect for racing’s practitioners – according to Hughes, who partnered 3,000odd winners as a jockey before quitting the saddle to join the trainers’ ranks in 2015.

“If we’re not racing on June 1, it will be very worrying – it really will,” said the Lambourn-based Irishman. “It’s the whole uncertainty, that’s the trouble, and we’ve strung owners along for long enough now.

“It was May 15. That was another carrot, and now it’s June 1. That bubble can’t burst – racing has to get going.”

Although prize money at Group 1 level will be cut by 50 per cent when racing resumes, owners of the top thoroughbreds – invariably blessed with deep pockets able to withstand a financial hit – stand to profit from their horses’ breeding careers.

On Thursday, the BHA moved to prop up purses at the grassroots end of the sport, pledging that minimum values would be at least 80 per cent of previous levels.

But the threat of an exodus by bread-and-butter owners is only too real while horses remain in their stables, argues Hughes – particularly with racing having recommenced successfully in France last Monday.

He added: “The guy who owns the pub that has been shut up – they’re the ones I’m really worried about. Not at the top end – at the cheaper end. They will be thinner on the ground.

“These people aren’t idiots. They’ve done well and they have a little budget to enjoy themselves. “They are willing to put aside £15,000-a-year for a half-share and they’re quite happy to lose that – £15,000-a-year, probably to win £5,000 one day and have a great day out.”

Hughes also believes the repercussions of this Covid-19ravaged season will be felt in 2021.

He added: “Next year there will be less money to throw around for everyone – ‘Maybe I’ll give it a miss this year, Richard. The horse only ran twice’.”

Racing must get going. We’ve strung owners along for long enough now