Lingfield to Welcome Back Limited Racegoers

Racing at Lingfield Park Racecourse in Britain will be "a lot closer to a normal race day than we've had for a long time" when spectators return on a non-trial basis for the first time in nearly nine months next week.

While restrictions will remain in place Dec. 2 for those tracks in England able to have up to 2,000 spectators, Arena Racing Company's communications manager, Sam Cone, said Nov. 27: "The long and the short of it is that if you're a punter and you think you'd quite like to go to Lingfield next Wednesday, you can do it—go online now and buy a badge." 

Courses in Tier 2 areas that are poised to race with spectators took part in a Zoom conference with the Racecourse Association on Friday, and Cone said: "Tickets are already being bought on the Lingfield website, and we can have up to 2,000 people, including owners and annual members.

"The green zone for key personnel will still be in existence, and the rest of the course will be the amber zone for owners and general admissions. People will be able to move around outside, albeit with social distancing and adhering to the rule of six, as in any other outdoor setting. If you are inside, you can only sit at a table with people in your bubble.

"As with all racecourses, we're encouraging people to drive rather than use public transport. You've also got to have face coverings at all times, unless you're eating or drinking." 

Catering provision is limited by strict pandemic protocols, and Cone said: "There will be on-course bookmakers, tea and coffee, and other refreshments available.

"Alcohol is only allowed with a 'substantial meal' in Tier 2. Owners will have a sit-down three-course meal inside, and there will also be an area inside where racegoers can have a substantial meal.

"It won't be completely normal, but it will be a lot closer to a normal race day than we've had for a long time."

Cone envisaged broadly similar arrangements at Fontwell and Hereford, the only other two ARC tracks in a Tier 2 zone and thus allowed to admit spectators.

"We can only sell tickets in advance at present and, unfortunately, only to people who live in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area, but we look forward to welcoming back racegoers," he said. 

Jockey Club Racecourses, which is set to have two tracks able to host spectators on the first day back and hosts the first major meeting with crowds, the two-day Tingle Creek fixture next Friday and Saturday, has yet to specify the makeup of crowds, but a spokesman stated the group planned to have general admission.

A crowd of less than 1,000 is forecast for Ludlow, and chief executive and clerk of the course Simon Sherwood said: "We're putting a limit on the crowd of 600 people, which doesn't include the owners.

"Realistically, the total number we could cater for with social distancing is probably just under 1,000, but we feel that being the first day with the new protocols, we'd prefer to tread carefully than risk being caught out."