NO MEY DAY
Dubai World Cup cancelled due to pandemic
THE coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of the $35million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan this Saturday.
Dubai Racing Club bosses were adamant the glittering nine-race programme would take place behind closed doors – despite the UAE government’s move on Thursday to suspend all sporting events in a bid to combat the spread of Covid-19.
But a statement from the government of Dubai’s media office yesterday read: “To safeguard the health of all participants, the higher organising committee of the Dubai World Cup 2020 has decided to postpone the 25th edition of the tournament to next year.”
Dubai
Racing Club executive director Frank Gabriel added: “We want to do what is best by everyone.”
Meanwhile, the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Racing and Bloodstock Industries has backed the BHA’s ruling to halt the domestic programme until the end of April.
The BHA has been urged to reconsider its ruling and follow Horse Racing Ireland’s blueprint of one afternoon fixture – behind closed doors – per day.
But a letter to the BHA from the All Party Parliamentary Group’s co-chairs – Labour MP for St Helens North, Conor McGinn, and Laurence Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, said: “It was the only reasonable course of action to take for the public good.”
❑ SPACE CADET gave his trainer Geroid O’Loughlin the biggest win of his career – and amateur rider Ben Harvey his first success under Rules – when landing the Randox Ulster National at Downpatrick yesterday.