Scottish Racing Returns After Three-Month Hiatus

Racing in Scotland will return after an absence of more than three months at Ayr June 22, with the track's managing director, David Brown, describing the meeting as an "important first step."

Although racing has been back in Britain behind closed doors since June 1, Scotland has come out of lockdown at a slower pace.

But following last week's announcement that professional sport could restart as the Scottish government moves into phase 2 of its COVID-19 plans, Ayr will become the first track in the country to stage racing since Kelso March 16.

Flat meetings are also set to take place this month at Hamilton, starting Wednesday, and Musselburgh, and the resumption of jump racing will take place at Perth July 21.

Having lost its lucrative Scottish Grand National meeting in April, Ayr has been one of the tracks hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, and officials have welcomed the chance to restart the sport.

"We're very pleased and excited to have racing back, and while I have no doubt it will be surreal having no crowds or owners, it's an important first step for Scottish racing," Brown said.

"We've had to accept the government advice with regards to the timing of a return, and the important thing is to make it as safe as possible. The (British Horseracing Authority) and (Racecourse Association) have done a good job putting together the protocols in a constantly changing environment.

"Like other racecourses, the financial landscape is extremely challenging, and the loss of the Scottish Grand National and many of our flat fixtures is a major blow, but you have to look forward."

Ayr has had a troubled recent past, following the cancellation of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting in 2017 due to drainage issues, but Brown believes the course is resilient enough to bounce back from the latest problems.

"From a racing perspective, it's been a challenging few years at Ayr, but we've always tried to run the business prudently so when the tough times come, we're able to weather the storm," he said. "The business has been there for 100 years, and you'd like to hope it will be there for another 100 years."

Dumfries trainer Iain Jardine, who saddles one runner on a nine-race card headlined by the EBF Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes, is pleased to see the return of Scottish racing. 

He said: "We're delighted it's back on. Scottish racing is important and provides a lot of good races, which attract runners from places like Newmarket and Ireland. There are a lot of racing fans in Scotland, and the racing public, as well as all the owners, will be mad keen to go back as soon as they're allowed to."

The safety protocols requiring horses to travel to meetings on the day of racing could become an issue for Ayr given its remote location. They have not prevented Malton trainer Richard Fahey sending up a strong team, although he is eager to see them relaxed. 

"It's grand to get back racing there, but we need overnight stabling back sooner rather than later," he said. "We're going to be leaving at 4 a.m. when normally we'd go up the day before. The horses seem to take it fine, but it's tough enough on the staff." 

Michael Dods, who trains south of the border in Darlington, said: "We like racing at Ayr, Hamilton, and Musselburgh, and it's great to have those tracks going again as it gives us more options."