And they’re off again...
No crowds at July opener
Perth Racecourse is now powering ahead with plans to welcome racing back to the track on July 21.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the easing of Scotland’s coronavirus lockdown to phase two last week, allowing for behind-closed-doors fixtures.
Working with the Scottish Government, Scottish Racing and British Horseracing Authority, the racecourse will be following all required protocols.
This includes specific guidance to help safeguard the health of employees and participants in a controlled and managed return to racing.
Bosses have also been engaging with Perth and Kinross Council’s safety advisory group, as is normal practice in advance of racing each year.
Fixtures at Ayr, Musselburgh and Hamilton Park will take place before the spotlight turns to Perth.
Hazel Peplinski, Perth Racecourse chief executive, said: “This has rightly been a careful and cautious process, with the health of the public always the greatest priority.
“However, we are delighted to be able to play a small part in the resumption of the wider horseracing industry with the significant positive impact this shall bring to the leisure sector.
“It is refreshing to once again have a fixture on the horizon to be proactively planning for after such a long period of uncertainty.
“There is a substantial amount of operational work involved in meeting the full compliance requirements for a behind closed doors fixture.
“Our full-time team remains at a reduced capacity at present but we can now fully focus on our restart date of July 21.
“Every protocol and procedure needs scrutinised in minute detail so that it is site specific for Perth even though the same processes have worked so well at other racecourses south of the border since racing resumed there on June 1.”
Hazel continued: “Whilst it is all very well to be planning for racing’s resumption next month, it will only begin to feel anything like normal when we are able to welcome our fantastic crowds back to Perth.
“Our whole financial model is based on attracting full attendances and hospitality – these are the elements of our business that make us tick.”
Not hearing the roaring crowds will be a strange feeling for Hazel when racing returns.
“Perth is renowned as a venue that creates a fantastic party atmosphere for people looking for a fun day out in the fresh outdoors and wishing to enjoy an authentic sport,” she said.
“It is the live crowds that make the atmosphere so whilst racing behind closed doors is an essential stepping stone to protect the economics of the industry, it shall just not be the same until we can welcome back our key missing ingredient which is our loyal fan base.
“I am yearning to see the traffic flowing in on a raceday once more – I would even take a rainy day.”
All behind-closed-doors meetings at Perth - scheduled for July 21, August 11 and August 30 - can be viewed live on Racing TV.