Ready for the green light
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has published a provisional racing schedule in anticipation of the sport being able to resume later this month.
The BHA and its Flat Pattern Committee have been working closely with racecourses across the UK to develop a plan of action in a bid to resume racing as soon as the green light is given by the government.
The Classics and other flagship races that are part of the racing calendar will be the main priority for the BHA. This is due to the horses taking part in these races being likelier to play a
future fundamental role on behalf of the breed.”
The best-case scenario for the BHA is to reschedule some of the lost listed and pattern events that were set to take place in the early weeks of spring. Instead, they would take place in the latter half of May or at the beginning of June.
This would be subject to advice from public health bodies. All other races scheduled before the close of May will be canceled and not rescheduled.
Racing to resume on May 23
As per the provisional racing schedule released by the BHA, it would be the weekend of May 23-24 that racing would resume. Some of the races that have been penciled in for these dates include the Pavilion, Craven, Fred Darling, Brigadier Gerard, and Aston Park.
One warning that the BHA did give was that these races may not take place at their traditional venues. It is also likely that only horses trained in Britain will initially be allowed to participate in these races.
This rule would be in place until at least May 30 and would be similar to the plans in other jurisdictions worldwide for racing. For example, New Zealand is planning to resume harness racing from May 29 and thoroughbred racing from July 3 onwards.
BHA’s handling of the crisis
Racing in the United Kingdom has been suspended since March 18 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. There had been plans to continue racing without spectators. It was in April that the BHA said it hoped to resume some racing in May, once there was approval from the government.
trainers were not happy with the financial impact that such a suspension would have on the racing industry
The BHA received criticism from many in the racing world for extending its initial suspension that was to expire at the close of April into May.
Many trainers were not happy with the financial impact that such a suspension would have on the racing industry. Some of these people were calling for Nick Rust, chief executive of the BHA, to step down over the handling of this crisis.