Industry Group Releases Plan for COVID-19 Aftermath

The industry group responding to the impact of the coronavirus on horseracing in Britain released an operational plan March 30, detailing the conditions required for racing to resume in Britain, which is planned for May 1.

The 10-page plan, released on the British Horseracing Authority website, states that racing will "almost certainly" resume behind closed doors.

The plan also suggests that racing will begin initially on the flat to minimize the health and emergency services required for jump meetings. Jumpers' bumpers cards could also be scheduled to provide opportunities for those from the other code.

On March 29, the Racing Post reported that behind closed doors discussions had been taking place and that racing could restart in three regional hubs. This could see tracks in the north, south, and midlands host fixtures over a sustained period of up to a week at a time.

Although the group still plan on resuming racing May 1, Monday's plan reads: "We cannot yet set out a timetable for resumption. No one can. Our ability to keep resources in place, horses exercised and ready to return to action, will be tested. The industry's leaders would like to give more certainty over dates, but it is too early to do at present."

Conditions for racing to return include scheduling of fixtures and making sure the meetings can be supported by trainers, jockeys, and owners. The resumption group will also liaise with bookmakers, broadcasters and the Levy Board.

The plan details five different work streams to support the sport through its current situation and dealing with the long-term impact caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The five groups are finance, people, equine health and welfare, resumption, and recovery.

A spokesperson for the group said: "The industry group is working hard to meet the needs of the racing industry in this period of great uncertainty. There has already been a huge collaborative effort and this will continue as we move to a point at which we can resume racing.

"We're publishing the plan so that the industry's stakeholders and participants can see the extensive program of work that is underway. We believe this will help avoid duplication and use resources in the best possible way. We will continue to give updates at regular intervals."

As of 8pm on March 30, the government reported 22,141 cases of coronavirus in the UK with 1,408 deaths.