PERTH RACING SOS PLEA
Fans asked to snub refunds in bid to help 400-year-old Perth venue
PERTH boss Hazel Peplinski has admitted the racecourse may not survive the coronavirus crisis.
Horse racing in the UK has closed its doors until at least the end of April meaning the course’s Festival at the end of next month has been lost.
Peplinski says Perth, which runs seasonally from April through to September each year, may not be able to cope if the shutdown is extended.
She said: “If we don’t get to race during 2020 having been in close season for six months up until now, we are in deep, deep trouble.”
HAZEL PEPLINSKI last night insisted Perth’s loyal fan base can help stave off a potential cash crisis and save their beloved racecourse.
The track’s chief executive has been left facing a financial nightmare as coronavirus finally got a grip on British racing.
BHA bosses confirmed that all meetings will be suspended from today until the end of April.
Although a timescale for resumption was put in place for the end of next month, there are fears the lay-off may be lengthened by the extent of the virus. And Peplinski has laid bare the situation now facing the 400-yearold course.
Due to their position as a summer jumps venue, Perth races only from April to September.
At the start and end of this year’s 15-meeting programme, there are two major Festivals which brings huge crowds flocking to Scone Palace Park in addition to the Gold Cup fixture in June.
With the April Festival already lost, the track will be hit hard in the pocket. If the racing ban extends to the end of the year, they face horrendous trouble.
Racegoers who have already bought tickets for meetings which do not go ahead will have the option of full refunds.
But, by choosing to transfer their tickets to another meeting in the future, Perth racegoers could massively help the track survive an extended lay-off.
Peplinski has revealed emergency talks with the bank are already underway with the future of the course plunged into the balance.
She said: “First of all this is about the health of the nation and that has to be the absolute priority. Economics is one thing, but people’s health is what is most important.
“We have been told the end of April but in truth, nobody knows how long this could take to resolve itself and we have to look at the worst-case scenario in our financial planning.
“We have sold hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of tickets and hospitality, so if we don’t get to race during 2020 having been in close season for six months up until now, we’re in deep trouble.
“It would be financial devastation, so we are in emergency talks with our bankers about a potential crisis. For a seasonal racecourse like Perth this could not have struck at a worse time.
“If we can’t race this year we have to appeal to the loyalty of racegoers and hope our customers will consider a transfer of their ticket purchase to a future meeting rather than applying for a refund.
“Customers are entitled to a refund within 28 days of the meeting being cancelled but this is an unprecedented scale and we are trying to survive as a business that would normally contribute an economic impact to Perthshire of £12million, so it is not just our own livelihoods.
“In order for the racecourse to survive – and we have for over 400 years – I wish to highlight how much the racecourse would appreciate customers deferring their tickets.
“Of course, we shall honour our terms and conditions.
“If this goes on into the summer and a high percentage of customers do not choose to transfer their tickets, things look very stark for Perth racecourse.
“It is a case of planning for the worst and hoping for the best.”
“If we can race after April, then we can survive, but things are so up in the air, nobody knows what will happen.
“This has been so massive, society has changed overnight and the uncertainty is making it very difficult for us all.”
Perth are amongst a host of racecourses assessing their situations along with jockeys, trainers and stable staff.
Racing had initially hoped to continue behind closed doors with Monday’s meeting at Kelso followed by action at Taunton and Wetherby without punters in attendance yesterday.
But the stance was altered at lunchtime and BHA chief Nick Rust said: “Racing is a family and we’ll pull together over the coming days, weeks and months and support each other.”