Government Gives Green Light to British Racing
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Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
Jump for Joy: British racing will return June 1 after a delay caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic
Horse racing has been given the all-clear to resume at Newcastle June 1, with culture minister Oliver Dowden declaring May 30 that "the wait is over" for the return of live sport in Britain.
Racing was shut down by the British Horseracing Authority in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic March 18—less than a week after the conclusion of the Cheltenham Festival—when government guidance withdrew support for mass gatherings and restricted all non-essential travel.
However, Britain will join France, Germany, America, Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong among others in operating the sport behind closed doors beginning Monday after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport cleared the way for the action to return.
Dowden said: "The wait is over. Live British sport will shortly be back on in safe and carefully controlled environments. This guidance provides the safe framework for sports to resume competitions behind closed doors. It's now up to individual sports to confirm they can meet these protocols and decide when it's right for them to restart.
"This is a significant moment for British sport. By working with clinicians every step of the way, we're creating the safest possible environments for everyone involved."
Starved racing fans are set for a feast of action at Newcastle, as the 10-race card features 120 declarations. The first race will begin at 1:00 p.m., with races every 35 minutes until the final contest at 6:15 p.m.