The Prime Minister had previously stated, “We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn”, adding, “From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums.”
A statement on the Racecourse Association website said it welcomed the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announcement that a small number of sporting events, including horse racing, will be used to pilot the safe return of spectators through late July and early August.
Reflecting on the financial strain on the industry the statement continues: “This is potentially an important step forward in the sporting economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The industry is grateful for the support of DCMS in selecting racing to be one of the sports to host a pilot event, two months after we returned safely behind closed doors.”
Previously The Racecourse Association explained that the Saturday’s meeting on the 1st August would have been a pilot event and would have implemented new safety protocols that had been established after consultation from the DCMS, the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) and the racing industry. They confirmed that the maximum attendance for the day’s racing would have been 5,000 spectators and tickets would have initially only been available to Goodwood Racecourse Annual Members and their guests.
The RCA Chief Executive, David Armstrong, had stated that he welcomed Goodwood being selected for the trial and said he understood the responsibility that was placed upon them. Saying: “The safety protocols involved will be stringent, and the Goodwood Racecourse team are in a fantastic place to implement them. The sport has come together to offer support to ensure the pilot event provides us with sufficient learnings that others may follow in time. These learnings will allow us to draft industry-wide protocols for the wider scale return of crowds as soon as we are able.”
Speaking about the impact of crowds, Armstrong said, “Crowds bring a wonderful atmosphere to a race day, and many businesses associated with racecourses are reliant upon them. I sincerely hope that all involved enjoy their day— our focus now turns to supporting the Goodwood team in what is a landmark day for the sport.” If spectators had been lucky enough to attend Glorious Goodwood, they would have had to have agreed to a new code of behaviour to attend. Those showing symptoms or having close contact with a person testing positive for the virus would have been prohibited from attending. There would also have been social distancing measures in place, including seating areas.
The government’s decision to prevent spectators from attending is a huge blow to the industry who had hoped that this trial would show that horse racing, with adequate precautions, is safe for fans. The timing of Boris Johnson’s announcement couldn’t come at a worse time, the day before spectators were due to arrive. It has not been announced if another meeting will be allowed to host spectators when the pilots can resume.
