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Even if they could just get one meeting on each day it would be something and not a strain on the emergency services
And then when the growth of infections starts slowing reassess
No mention of whether or not they will be paying their staff.
The closure of pubs and restaurants has captured the headlines but betting shops have been ordered to close as well.
“The government has announced it will pay 80% of people’s wages anyway”
Only if the company applies for it. It’s not an automatic payment.
Is it realistic to think Guineas will take place on 2nd May? BHA says national hunt racing postponed till July but planning restart of flat from 1st May behind closed door.
Not cancelled. Postponed to later in the year. Talk of Royal Ascot being behind closed doors too, though whether they’ll delay that too isn’t clear.
Newmarket and Epsom have been realistic and bowed to the inevitable. I expect Ascot will have to do the same. I cannot see how they can expect to race in the middle of June, even behind closed doors. And should they really have Royal Ascot behind closed doors anyway?
It’s going to be a completely pointless RA anyway, behind closed doors with the SJP rum before the Guineas, the Coventry a debut, etc etc. I can’t see it going ahead. The season is close to a write off now, just hope the industry is okay and we get enough decent two year old races in ready for next year. Ah I’m counting the days already to this time next year. What a shocking year
I cannot understand the BHA strategy of postponing the Guineas and Derby/Oaks but still intending to go ahead with Royal Ascot at the usual time.
Can anybody who subscribes to Racing Post give me the gist of the article and who wrote it?
“It’s not just when this year’s Derby will take place – it’s also where”
Nothing is set in stone. When it’s possible to get something up and running start with regional racing at a few centres, with entry only at nearest centre. This can start once lockdown restrictions are eased abd then widen activity as situation allows. If the Classics have to missed and there’s no Royal Ascot then tough, but it’s surely not beyond the wit and wisdom of the BHA to put together a balanced bespoke programme.
If we still in lockdown in three months time then there more important things than racing to be worried about.
There is no way that the economy of the country can survive a lockdown for another 3 months.
The difficulty all sports have at the moment is that we don’t know when all this going to be over.
How can you decide when racing starts, even behind closed doors until we know when the lockdown will be ending. Even the scientists aren’t able to tell us when the UK is going to reach the worst stage of this crisis.
So until there is more certainty there is no point in setting a date to return or deciding which events to cancel and which should go ahead.
The trouble is that these days everybody wants to know what is happening NOW. I understand that everybody connected in racing and other sports need to plan ahead but at the moment we are just guessing.
We’d be as well shutting down until end of April and then seeing if we can make decisions then. If not then put it back another month.
We will know early next week if we have to continue with the lockdown which is almost a certainty we will. They have to review this at least every 3 weeks which will take us to around 4th May. As there is another Bank Holiday at the end of that week to “celebrate” the 75th VE Day anniversary I cannot see the government lifting restrictions then either for all and sundry to have street parties, barbecues etc. I think there may be another 3 week lockdown which takes us to the end of the Spring Bank Holiday. Then there might be some restrictions lifted including possibly outdoor sport behind closed doors. Pubs etc may remain shut until at least mid June.
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