Racing has been suspended until at least the end of April amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the last meetings in Britain at Wetherby and Taunton on March 17, both behind closed doors.
The government has indicated there will be no imminent lifting of the lockdown measures that have been in place in Britain from March 23, with the current restrictions including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people.
Horses continue to be trained and exercised. Racing is continuing in Hong Kong, Japan and Australia under strict biosecurity protocols.
The sport’s Resumption of Racing Group – established by the COVID19 Racing Industry Group – has been working with horsemen, racecourses and others on a plan to resume racing on the Flat behind closed doors as soon as that becomes possible.
A statement from RORG said the focus was on establishing criteria to determine the conditions under which racing could resume.
“The group continues to focus on a framework that will enable racing to be ready to resume on daily basis in a phased and controlled way as soon as possible,” the statement said.
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