Horse racing has moved a step closer to resuming following the publication by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) of a new fixture list for June, July and August.
This has replaced the original schedule for the summer which means meetings such as Chepstow’s Ladies Evening and Caribbean Night will not take place. If you would like to transfer your booking to 2021 or receive a refund, please e-mail info@chepstow-racecourse.co.uk
The new fixtures, which will take place behind closed doors with only the participants and officials in attendance, will start on Monday 1st June at Newcastle providing the UK Government give approval as part of its latest coronavirus guidance.
In the published revised fixture list, no meetings in Wales are currently listed. This is because the Welsh Government has yet to move to the Amber stage of its post lockdown strategy which would potentially allow meetings to take place.
A decision about moving to Amber is expected very soon and therefore, fixtures for Welsh courses have been reserved by the BHA and dates will be announced as soon as the Welsh Government gives approval.
It is hoped Chepstow will be able to start racing from the middle of June. All meetings will be screened live on Sky Sports Racing.
We have appreciated the opportunity to speak to members of the Welsh Parliament in recent weeks to outline the importance of racing as an industry and how, going forward we can work with politicians to help promote racing in Wales.
Like the rest of society, racing is adapting to operating in the ‘new normal’ and very strict health protocols will be in place when racing does resume. Medical questionnaires, temperature testing and social distancing are just some of the measures that will be standard.
The guidelines have been developed in consultation with Public Health England and a group of cross-sport Chief Medical Officers and drawn up under the direction of the British Horseracing Authority’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jerry Hill.
The key principle is to act in line with government policy to protect those working and competing at race meetings, and to reassure the wider community that the risks of spreading coronavirus have been kept to a minimum.
Chepstow’s website will be updated this week with all the relevant changes to this summer’s events and if anyone has queries about the impact of the coronavirus on our fixtures in the coming months, please e-mail info@chepstow-racecourse.co.uk.
