Racing ready for a return to the course
NEWCASTLE is set to host the opening fixture if racing is able to resume as hoped behind closed doors on June 1.
Racing last took place in Britain at Wetherby and Taunton on March 17.
Hopes of a restart this month were dealt a blow on Monday following news from the Government that there would be no professional sport in England until at least June 1.
The British Horseracing Authority announced on Wednesday the 2000 and 1000 Guineas would be run on June 6 and 7 and Royal Ascot would remain in its traditional spot in the calendar, although all plans remain subject to sport being cleared to resume. The Derby and Oaks have been pencilled in for the same day this year, July 4.
Adding further detail to the first seven days of action, the crossindustry Resumption of Racing Group revealed both Newcastle and Kempton will race on June 2, followed by Kempton and Yarmouth on June 3 and Newcastle and Newmarket on June 4.
Lingfield and Newmarket feature on June 5, with those tracks also in action on June 6 together with Newcastle. Haydock, Lingfield and Newmarket host the June 7 fare, and Chelmsford, Haydock and Lingfield on June 8.
Newmarket’s Friday card will be headlined by the Coronation Cup, which has been moved from Epsom, plus the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Paradise Stakes and Abernant Stakes. Lingfield hosts its Derby and Oaks trials that day.
The group intends to publish the fixture list and race programme for the remainder of June by the end of next week.
It said: “As with all race planning at this point, the exact timetable is based on our best-case scenario planning and remains subject to an assessment by public health officials of the risks posed by the virus at the time.
“We know that significant changes have already been implemented across the industry - in training yards, at studs and on racecourses to ensure strict adherence to social distancing measures and to help reduce the spread of the virus.
“In the same manner, strict measures will be applied on racedays.”