Full capacity crowds cleared to return to racecourses in England

The horseracing industry in England rejoiced last night as the UK government confirmed Covid-19 restrictions would be removed from 19 July. Under Step Four of the roadmap out of lockdown, which had been pushed back from its original date of 21 June, there will no longer be a limit to the number of spectators sports venues can welcome through their gates. This will represent a welcome boon to the horseracing industry, at least in England, which has suffered severe financial hardship due to the pandemic, with punters unable to attend on-course events and prize money diminished. British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chair Annamarie Phelps said that while the news was positive, spectators must continue to adhere to certain safety protocols on their return to racecourses. She said: “This news comes as a huge boost to an industry which relies so heavily on its nearly six million racegoing fans each year. “Everyone involved in our sport has been looking forward to this news for the last 13 months, and worked tirelessly and with great patience to safely keep the show on the road in this time. “It may remain the case that some protocols around the operation of sporting events for participants and officials remain in place in order to protect sports from the potential impact of positive cases and close contact self-isolation requirements, and permit international competitors. “We are currently working with our industry colleagues to consider how this might apply to racing and how our racedays will therefore operate from 19 July onwards, and we await further clarity from government,” she added. Racecourse Association CEO David Armstrong recalled the fact it has been 476 days since British racecourses were able to welcome racegoers without restrictions. He said: “Clearly this has been a difficult time for racecourses on both a commercial level, we estimate the pandemic has cost racecourses £400m, and a human level—we have deeply missed the atmosphere and presence of racegoers.” Scotland aims to lift all major legal lockdown restrictions by 9 August, while Wales and Northern Ireland are set to review measures on 15 July and 8 July, respectively. Since 17 May, racecourses have been allowed up to 4,000 spectators, or half capacity, depending on which is lower. Royal Ascot, which became one of the pilot events to test the impact of reintroducing spectators into sporting venues and the transmission of Covid-19, saw 12,000 spectators visit the racecourse. The first race meeting that could see full capacity crowds takes place on 19 July at Cartmel at 1.50pm. Glorious Goodwood, scheduled to kick-off on 27 July, would be the first major horseracing festival with full capacity crowds following the easing of restrictions. Elsewhere, Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Michael Dugher praised the easing of restrictions, which will also see customers afforded unfettered access to high street betting shops and casinos. The former Labour MP said: “We strongly welcome the government’s intention to remove the remaining Covid restrictions on 19 July, which will provide a much-needed boost to the economy. “It is particularly good news for hospitality venues like casinos and their staff, as the businesses have had to endure many, many months of closure and crippling restrictions.”