Turf ’s up as jockeys return to work (suitably masked)
Horse racing returns today with Newcastle hosting 10 events – but grandstands will remain empty for now
JOCKEYS will ride in face masks today as the £4billion horse racing industry returns behind closed doors, hours after the easing of sports lockdown rules.
As the most high-profile sport to return, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is promising a zero tolerance approach to health checks at Newcastle this afternoon. Trainers arriving at the course will be questioned and will have to fill in background checks.
Refusal will result in ejection from the course and horses will be pulled from the races. Jockeys will have no access to saunas and will have to jog around the course in heavy winter clothing to help them comply with weight regulations. Face masks will be worn at all times in line with horse racing rules in France and Germany.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been lost since the sport was suspended on March 18. “The future of an industry employing around 20,000 people directly, mostly in rural Britain, has been put in jeopardy,” the BHA said at the weekend.
To begin clawing back the losses, Newcastle has extended its programme from eight to 10 races after receiving 369 entries, twice the average number.
There will be races every 35 minutes from 1pm until 6.15pm.
Formally giving the green light for racing, Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, said “the British sporting recovery has begun”. The Premier League will restart on June 17 as part of “phase three” government guidance. Snooker, pigeon racing, fishing and some unofficial club golf tournaments are also back in action this week.
At Newcastle, riders and trainers were told they must travel alone and maintain social-distancing at all times. Oisin Murphy, the champion jockey, is booked for three rides, and John Gosden, the champion trainer, will have three runners ridden by Robert Havlin.
The sport’s return is sure to be welcomed by the Queen, a known flat racing fan. The 2000 Guineas takes place at Newmarket on June 6, while Royal Ascot starts on June 16, also without crowds. Nick Rust, BHA chief executive, said the timing was “crucial for the breeding sector”, worth an extra £400million to the UK. “There is a tough battle before we can get fully back in business but this is a resilient and world-leading industry and we are ready for the task,” he said. Some trainers believe the sport should have campaigned to return earlier. In April, The Telegraph disclosed how Mr Rust was facing calls to stand down from Mark Johnston, who holds the record for the most winners, and Ralph Beckett, the three-time classic-winning trainer. Others leapt to his defence, however, and Dr Jerry Hill, the sport’s chief medical adviser, worked with officials from Public Health England to ensure that racing could become the first major sport to return.
She said: “It is responsible, makes sensible use of medical resources but is flexible so we can adapt in accordance with changing government policy and as our knowledge of Covid increases.”
‘There is a tough battle before we can get fully back in business … but we are ready for the task’
However, many sports personnel were concerned sport was returning too quickly. In response, the Government drew up uniform rules, including measures such as athletes, support staff and media travelling to venues in private transport, screening for all stadium attendees and use of PPE.