Grand National 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak
The Grand National at Aintree on 4 April, in which Tiger Roll had been expected to attempt an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase, has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Jockey Club, which owns Aintree racecourse, said on Monday evening that the decision to cancel the entire three-day Grand National meeting, which was due to open on 2 April, had been taken following “the government’s new public health guidance regarding avoiding social contact and stopping non-essential travel, and its statement that emergency services are withdrawn from supporting mass gatherings from tomorrow”.
The British Horseracing Authority, the sport’s ruling body, announced earlier in the day that all racing in Britain would take place behind closed doors from Tuesday. While some smaller meetings may take place in the next few days, the logistics of running one of British sport’s biggest events without the support of emergency services and with a three-figure limit on the numbers allowed on site seem to have forced the course to make an immediate decision to cancel.
“The Randox Health Grand National Festival was just three weeks away and it’s very clear to us it will not be possible for the event to take place,” Sandy Dudgeon, the senior steward of the Jockey Club, said in a statement. “Public health must come first.
“We were working on a plan to stage the Grand National behind closed doors given its importance to the racing industry and beyond, but following the new government measures confirmed this evening to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak, this is not a viable option.
“I know this is hugely disappointing news for the many people who work in our sport and the many millions who were looking forward to this year’s event, but very sadly these are exceptional times and this is the responsible thing to do.”
The Grand National has been one of the key events in the British sporting calendar since it was founded in the 1830s by a Liverpool hotelier, to attract customers to his inn near Aintree. It is by far the most popular betting event in the racing calendar, attracting around 1% of all racing bets placed annually despite being one of 10,000 races in Britain each year.
As a result, it is the main point of contact between horse racing and the British public and the loss of this year’s race will be especially damaging as Tiger Roll, the most popular chaser in training, had been due to attempt the unprecedented feat of a third consecutive success. Red Rum, who is buried next to the winning post at Aintree, is the only horse to have won the race