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Leicester To Race On

Leicester Racecourse’s planned fixture on July 7 will go ahead following consultation with relevant authorities after a COVID-19 spike prompted increased lockdown measures in the area earlier this week.

The area lockdown has reinstated restrictions to what they were on June 14, at which point racing was permitted under strict guidelines. Owners will not be permitted at Leicester on July 7. The British Horseracing Authority has liaised with Racetech to ensure stalls handlers will be available for the fixture; Tuesday evening’s meeting at Leicester was conducted without starting stalls.

A statement from the BHA read, “We are grateful for the input of representative bodies in developing our protocols for responding to local lockdowns. Everyone in the sport remains in agreement that safety is the number one priority while racing’s behind closed doors resumption continues. The sport’s strict health screening and social distancing protocols continue to ensure that racecourses are amongst the most controlled of workplaces, and that local communities are not affected by behind closed doors fixtures.”

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Mask Regulations for UK Jockeys Tweaked

Face covering regulations for jockeys have been revised, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Saturday. There has been a hot spell in the UK as summer begins. The new protocols are as follows:

Prior to a race, jockeys are required to wear a face covering (which covers nose and mouth) from the time they depart the changing area in the weighing room.
The wearing of face coverings during the race is recommended. However, jockeys are permitted to pull down the face covering in the moments immediately prior to the start and for the duration of the race. For Flat races, jockeys in the starting stalls should not turn to face any neighbouring loaded jockey.
On completion of the race, the face covering, if lowered for the race, should be raised before entering the horse walk, whether mounted or on foot.
In the unsaddling area, once the jockey has assisted stable staff with loosening any tack and is two metres away from any other personnel, the face covering may be lowered until the jockey returns to the changing area.
While the face covering is lowered, it is essential that two-metre social distancing is maintained.

The BHA also announced that beginning on July 1, international runners will be permitted to take part in heritage handicaps on the Flat. Internationally trained runners can already participate in Class 1 races on the Flat and over jumps. Horse Racing Ireland has confirmed that also on July 1, premier handicaps in Ireland will be open to British-trained runners, as well as all black-type races under both codes. See www.britishhorseracing.com for more information.

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Sykes To Step Down From BHA Role

David Sykes will step down from his role as the British Horseracing Authority’s Director of Equine Health and Welfare before the end of the year. He will return to his native Australia for family reasons.

Since joining the BHA in 2017, Sykes has been involved in the development of the Horse Welfare Board; the handling of the 2019 equine flu outbreak; the publication of a detailed review of safety and welfare at the Cheltenham Festival; the implementation of 30-day foal notifications and changes to the ways in which retired racehorses are notified and traced; greater alignment and coordination of industry bodies on welfare policies; led discussions globally on the use of substances like bisphosphonates and altrenogest; and the introduction of more efficient and comprehensive anti-doping testing policies.

Nick Rust, chief executive officer of the BHA, said, “David has made a fantastic contribution to British racing over the last three years. His track record speaks for itself in achieving so much in a relatively short period of time and he will be greatly missed. We are grateful that David will continue to stay on for the time being while we carry out the difficult task of looking for his successor.”

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