[ad_1]
The British Horse Racing Authority said Monday the sport is “committed to planning its resumption on June 1” and will agree on a timeline to achieve that goal within seven days, after the publication of a “road map” of the government outside the closure that ruled out the return of any professional sport before that date.
A statement issued on behalf of the racing executive committee, which includes the BHA, the National Federation of Trainers, the Racetrack Association and the Association of Race Horse Owners, also offered hope that the Season’s Classics, including the Derby are still running, although the first four at least 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Derby and Oaks are likely to be at least six weeks later than normal.
“The [BHA’s] The resumption of Racing Group will meet later this week and will ensure that race planning and provisional match schedule, including scheduling of classics and other iconic races, meet the new government schedule, ”the statement said. .
“Racing has already drawn up resumption plans based on minimizing the risk to participants through robust social distancing and strict infection control measures. Conversations with Public Health England and leading medical directors for sports such as horse racing will also continue. ”
Coach Mark Johnston, who has been very critical of BHA’s approach to resuming racing in recent weeks and He called for CEO Nick Rust to resign, welcomed the news of a possible resumption date Monday night.
“It’s a couple of weeks later than I would have liked, but at least it’s a date,” Johnston said. “The government has said that there are no sports [before 1 June] and that doesn’t make much sense, what’s the difference between a career meeting and a construction site [where workers are now being encouraged to return]Other than that we are outdoors and less densely populated. But if we have an appointment, we can work to get it. “
The British Horseracing Authority has been working on plans to organize meetings under strict quarantine conditions since all races in Britain were suspended on March 17, shortly after the Cheltenham Festival.
The Authority is believed to be planning to organize course meetings with on-site hotels to accommodate riders and other race-day staff, and released a schedule for the first seven days of a restart, with 13 meetings in unnamed courses spread across across the country at the end of last week.
The Employers Committee, which oversees the high-level racing program, had released plans for two high-class racing weekends in late May, including several traditional classic rehearsals, before a rescheduled Guineas meeting in early June. with the Derby. and Oaks will run in early July. Those plans would now be forced to roll back at least two weeks.
Monday’s “road map” also raised the possibility that paying viewers may not enter the racetracks for many months. The opening of venues such as sports stadiums, according to the strategy document, “may be entirely possible later depending on the reduction in the number of infections.”
Sottsass and Victor Ludorum, the highest-profile riders on a 10-run undercard at Longchamp, were defeated in disagreement when first-class racing resumed in France on Monday. Victor Ludorum only held third place at the Prix de Fontainebleau, a trial for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2,000 French guineas) on June 1, while Pierre-Charles Boudot mounted a well-judged race from the front in the Summit, a 24-1 stranger.
Sottsass, third behind Waldgeist and Enable at Arc last year, seemed certain to benefit from his return to action, but was defeated entering the final period without a fight in Group Two Prix D’Harcourt, the main event on the card. . Shaman, trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, stayed away from Way To Paris by three-quarters of a length with Simona in third.
Sottsass was brought to 25-1 for the Arc in October, in a market led by Enable, the winner in 2017 and 2018, at 6-1.
