St Leger to be fan-free as pilot event is called off

Doncaster will stage the final three days of the St Leger Festival behind closed doors after the local council called a halt to the crowd pilot scheme at the track.

The Town Mo or venue welcomed an estimated 2,500 spectators to yesterday’s opening day, with that figure planned to rise around 6,000 for the Pertemps St Leger on Saturday.

However, the pilot began under the shadow of revised UK Government guidance, with gatherings in England to be limited to just six from Monday, rather than the 30-people limit that is in place now.

Doncaster Council announced it had instructed Arena Racing Company, which operates the track, to complete the meeting behind closed doors.

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’S r ac ing division, said: “We will not be able to admit a crowd to the final three days of the St Leger Festival.

“The race meeting will continue on a‘ behind closed doors’ basis.

“This pilot event repre - sents a hugely important step not just for our business but for the whole of British racing as well as the sports and hospitality industries as a whole. We do, of course, fully understand and respect the decision and will be contacting all of our customers booked for the remaining three days.”

Dr Rupert Suck ling, director of public health for Doncaster, said: “I am assessing the situation daily against the 10 tests I set out to hold the event.

“I am concerned that the test covering critical incident risks addressed throughout the event such as managing gatherings of people, public dis order risks across the borough, will be jeopardised by potentially more peo - ple meeting up ahead of any further Government changes to the advice.

“I appreciate this decision may not be met with universal agreement but it is the safe stand most appropriate way to move forward for everyone’s best interests in the borough and beyond.”