Racing scheduled to return in Scotland on 22 June

Following the Scottish Government’s publication of the route map for moving out of lockdown, Scottish Racing is making plans for a resumption of racing to be carried out behind closed doors.

Discussions are taking place between Scottish Racing and the Scottish Government to support these provisional fixtures, during Phase 2 of public health restrictions. Subject to a range of factors – particularly public health and the approval of the Scottish Government – the aim is to commence on Monday 22 June.

The sport’s regulator, the

British Horseracing Authority (BHA), has released protocols for racing behind closed doors, which includes specific guidance for the racing industry to help safeguard the health of employees and participants in a controlled and managed return to racing.

With only 3.7 per cent of all British horses in training being resident in Scotland, the five Scottish racecourses rely heavily on being able to welcome horses to race from all areas of Britain, and the protocols include detailed information for the safe movement of all horses, jockeys, racing staff and their relevant equipment.

These are applicable for everyone attending race meetings, who will all need to be aware of and comply with the new and revised procedures and protocols.

Scottish Racing’s manager, Delly Innes, said: “The public can have confidence in our ability to race behind closed doors as safely as possible when the Government allows more industries back to work. As a highly regulated industry we have considerable experience of keeping any potential health and safety risks to an absolute minimum. We are working with Public Health officials to protect those coming back to work, the local communities in which race meetings take place and the wider public, against the risk of transmission of Covid-19. We are fully prepared to stage race meetings in a strictly controlled environment which fully comply with all the requirements of governmental and racing industry bodies, once they decide the time is right to resume.”