British Horseracing Welcomes Confirmation of Pilot Events with Crowds
The Racecourse Association (RCA), on behalf of British Horseracing, welcomes recent announcements from the Government which detail the further unlocking of restrictions to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, and subsequent Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) approval for horseracing’s pilot events with crowds to recommence.
The first scheduled horseracing pilot event with crowds will take place on Wednesday 9th September at Doncaster Racecourse as part of the St Leger Festival.
The RCA, alongside industry partners and its member racecourses, has worked diligently throughout July and August as the lead of a working group to return crowds to racecourses. Building on the successful return to racing behind closed doors and welcoming owners back to racecourses, the group recognises the importance of bringing back spectators for the sport and subsidiary businesses that rely on a day’s racing, not to mention the electric atmosphere only generated by spectators.
This group provided a joint submission to DCMS to host pilot events. This has been approved and the schedule for pilot events is as follows:
- Doncaster Racecourse, St Leger Festival, 9th-12th September
- Warwick Racecourse, 21st September
- Newmarket Racecourse, Cambridgeshire Meeting, 24th-26th September
The pilot events in England will test stage 5 of the Government’s return to elite sport plan as well as stringent operating protocols prescribed by the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA).
As part of the application, each racecourse was required to submit a detailed risk assessment and operating plan to DCMS satisfying health, safety and operational factors.
Each fixture has been selected to provide a detailed case study for other racecourses to follow, with factors such as size and ownership of venue, profile of fixture, logistics of essential raceday services such as catering & betting and geography within Britain considered.
Scottish Racing continues to lead discussions with Scottish Government regarding pilot events with details to be confirmed in due course. A delegation led by the BHA and ARC have led similar discussions with the Welsh Government for racecourses in Wales.
David Armstrong, Chief Executive of the RCA, commented: “we are pleased to receive confirmation of our pilot events to welcome back crowds to racecourses and once again thank DCMS for entrusting the sport with this responsibility.
“Racecourses have been working for some time to this end and we are confident the events selected will provide strong case studies which will be of use to all.
“The disappointment of postponing our last confirmed pilot at Goodwood was felt across the sport, but the learnings and behind-the-scenes work have been of great value to others. Racing is ready to proceed in a safe manner and we are looking forward to once again welcoming crowds back to the racecourse.”
