Behind closed doors | Horse Racing Free Tips

Irish Racing to Continue Behind Closed Doors

Irish racing will continue behind closed doors despite coronavirus restrictions being maintained, the Irish Government announced on Wednesday. Only professional, elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events are permitted to continue in this fashion, with no other matches or events allowed at this time. Racing in Ireland resumed on June 8, but owners have only been allowed briefly in September. The ban on UK travel continues until midnight on Friday, Jan. 8, and beginning on Jan. 9, all passengers coming from the UK will be required to possess a negative coronavirus PCR test acquired within 72 hours of traveling. This testing requirement prior to travel will last at least until Jan. 31.

“They will have to present that negative test at the border management unit at an airport or at the ferry terminal,” said Irish Transport Minister Eamon Ryan. “Failure to do so will be subject to either a fine of €2,500 or up to six months imprisonment penal provision, to make sure we get compliance.

“We expect other countries to be doing something similar and we’ll work in co-operation with other countries, and with the European Commission, to monitor and manage how this affects individuals. The cabinet’s agreed provisionally to apply the same measures to other jurisdictions, other red-list countries.

“We will work first of all introduce to the UK provisions, and we will work in the next week with European Commission and others, people involved in the travel industry, in terms of how we broaden and apply the same measures too from other jurisdictions.”

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British Racing To Continue In Lockdown

Racing in the UK will continue behind closed doors, as new national lockdowns begin at midnight on Jan. 5. Cases of coronavirus are rising in both countries and their respective governments have imposed new COVID restrictions. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited the rising death toll in the past seven days and the new coronavirus variant that is widespread in the UK as the primary reasons for a third lockdown, which is expected to last until mid-February. The BHA confirmed that racing will continue without fans and with only essential personnel in attendance shortly after Johnson’s announcement.

“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” Johnson said in part, in an address to the nation. “I know how tough this is, and I know how frustrated you are and I know you have had more than enough of government guidance about defeating this virus, but now, more than ever, we must pull together.

“The number of deaths is up by 20% over the last week and will sadly rise further. With most of the country already under extreme measures, it’s clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out.”

The statement from the BHA read, “Following this evening’s broadcast, we can confirm racing will continue behind closed doors during the upcoming national lockdown. Attendance will be limited to those essential to the staging of fixtures and strict adherence to British racing’s COVID-19 protocols will continue to be required for all who attend.”

Scotland’s lockdown is expected to last through January and carries a new legal requirement forbidding anyone from leaving their home except for essential purposes. Only essential personnel will be allowed at racing fixtures, and no owners are permitted to attend a fixture until further notice.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, “We are now seeing a steeply rising trend of infections. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we face now than I have been at any time since March last year. As a government our clear duty right now is to act quickly and decisively to safeguard health, save lives and protect the NHS.

“The advice of our clinical advisers is very clear that the increased transmissibility of the new variant means that the current level 4 measures may not be sufficient to bring the R number back below 1. It is essential that we further limit interaction between different households to stem the spread and bring the situation back under control, while we vaccinate more people. In short, we must return for a period to a situation much closer to the lockdown of last March.”

Scottish Racing, which represents Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth tweeted, “Following today’s announcement that Scotland is to re-enter full Covid restrictions, @ScotGov has confirmed that racing in Scotland can continue behind closed doors. Only individuals essential to staging the fixtures should attend race meetings and are required to continue to follow the strict protocols already in place. Unfortunately, no owners will be permitted to attend a racecourse until further notice.”

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Owners Barred From French Tracks As Lockdown Begins

France Galop has confirmed that racing will be allowed to continue in the country during the new lockdown which came into force at midnight on Thursday.

The action will return to being staged behind closed doors with only key personnel allowed to attend. The trainer and one member of staff per runner will be permitted but owners and spectators are no longer allowed to be present at race meetings in France. The current restrictions are expected to be in place for at least a month.

A statement released by the sport’s governing body on Friday read, “All race meetings will take place without the public, within a strictly defined framework of racing behind closed doors that includes the application of a set of very rigorous specifications. Only racing professionals who are involved in the race meeting will be admitted to the racecourse.

“Since the beginning of the health crisis, racing industry stakeholders and horseracing organisations have demonstrated their ability and determination to implement all of the sanitary rules with extreme efficiency and thus will be able to reconcile the necessary continuance of the economic activity with the preservation of their health and that of their families and friends in this new period of lockdown.”

The final Group 1 races of the season in France took place at Saint-Cloud and ParisLongchamp over last weekend with limited spectators in attendance. The Flat turf season got off to a delayed start on May 12 following an initial two-month lockdown with no racing in France from mid-March.

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