Limited Spectators to Return at English Racecourses in September

The Pertemps St Leger Festival at Doncaster is one of eight meetings that will be staged with crowds as part of stage five of the UK government’s plan to return spectators to elite sport, the Racecourse Association announced on Wednesday. Doncaster’s four-day Classic meeting from Sept. 9-12, a Sept. 21 Warwick fixture, and Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting from Sept. 24-26 have all been greenlit to allow racegoers in limited fashion. In Doncaster’s case, a maximum of 3,640 spectators will be allowed on the first day, increasing to 6,202 for the final three days. Each course submitted a detailed risk assessment and operating plan to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, with these courses selected to provide “a detailed case study for other racecourse to follow.” These experimental events with spectators will also test the operating protocols set out by the Sports Ground Safety Authority.

Racing halted in mid-March and resumed on June 1 without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Owners were finally allowed back to UK racecourses since July 4, Derby Day at Epsom Downs. On-course bookmakers were also allowed back last week. There was an aborted attempt to allow spectators back at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

David Armstrong, Chief Executive of the RCA, commented, “We are pleased to receive confirmation of our pilot events to welcome back crowds to racecourses and once again thank DCMS for entrusting the sport with this responsibility.

“Racecourses have been working for some time to this end and we are confident the events selected will provide strong case studies which will be of use to all.

“The disappointment of postponing our last confirmed pilot at Goodwood was felt across the sport, but the learnings and behind-the-scenes work have been of great value to others. Racing is ready to proceed in a safe manner and we are looking forward to once again welcoming crowds back to the racecourse.”

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, said, “We are delighted that the government and local authorities have taken the decision to allow us to pilot the return of a crowd at Doncaster Racecourse.

“We were very proud to host the return of racing behind closed doors at Newcastle at the beginning of June and are grateful to the government for showing confidence in us to host this event.

“As with all sport and other live events, welcoming a crowd is absolutely fundamental to our business as well as being the heart and soul of the spectacle. The team at Doncaster have worked incredibly hard on making sure that we have all of the steps in place to welcome a limited number of spectators in a safe and efficient manner and we are really looking forward to welcoming people back on site to enjoy four excellent days of racing.

“The event is, of course, a pilot so the experience may be different than customers may have got used to in previous years, but we are putting everything in to making sure that our customers can have an enjoyable afternoon’s racing as well as offering valuable feedback to the process of allowing crowds back to sporting events more generally.

“The impact of the national lockdown has been immense on the racing industry, as it has been to all sports and live events businesses. Whilst we have been delighted to get back to work behind closed doors, our industry and many others rely massively on crowds, so to get this pilot event is a huge step in the right direction for all of us.”

Wales and Scotland will continue to race without spectators. The British Horseracing Authority and the Arena Racing Company are discussing the issue of spectators with the Welsh government and Scottish racing is also in talks with the Scottish government on the same matter.

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Goffs Moves Orby Sale Forward

Goffs will shift its two-day Orby yearling sale-to be staged this year at Goffs UK’s Doncaster sales complex-forward by a day and it will now take place on Sept. 30 and Oct 1. The change was made to allow an additional day between Orby and Tattersalls October Book 1. Orby yearlings will ship into Doncaster on Sept. 27, following the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale there on Sept. 24 and 25.

“Our job is to deliver the greatest opportunity for every lot with which we are entrusted,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Feedback from a wide range of Orby vendors since Friday was that the timing between Orby and Tattersalls Book 1 was too tight and we were asked to revisit the dates both for vendor logistics and to ensure that every lot receives the full attention of the maximum number of potential purchasers for the most time. At this difficult time we are mindful of working for everyone in the industry and so, after discussing the matter at length with Edmond Mahony at Tattersalls, we have decided to move the Orby Sale back 24 hours whilst we will also turn the complex around in 24 hours following the Sportsman’s Sale to ensure the stables are ready for the Orby yearlings that much earlier, so allowing them to settle in before showing starts. Every hour counts for these world-class yearlings and we have listened carefully to the feedback and requests that have come from all our vendors, many of whom will also be selling the following week. An extra 24 hour window might make all the difference at the end of our sale so having the stables ready a day earlier will also be important. On both counts the Goffs team will do whatever it takes to deliver.”

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Hemmings Dispersal Part of Goffs UK HIT Sale

Three-time Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings will offer 56 lots at the Goffs UK September HIT Sale, the sales company announced on Monday. Held at Doncaster on Sept. 15-16, Hemmings’s dispersal lots including Grade 3 hurdler Stoney Mountain (Ire) (Mountain High {Ire}), and Grade 2 hurdler Mount Mews (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), as well as several winning chasers, young hurdlers and unraced stock. The official catalogue will be released online on Sept. 1, with National Hunt stores and horses-in-training entries. For more information, go to www.goffsuk.com.

“We are grateful that Mr. Hemmings has chosen Goffs UK to offer his dispersal and it will be a big boost to our September Sale,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent. “His emerald green and yellow quartered silks have been carried to many famous victories over the years and this dispersal will give others the chance to continue that success with some high-class racing prospects to be offered.”

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St Leger Gains Pyledriver, Hukum Also Possible

MGSW Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who won the G2 Great Voltigeur S. on Aug. 19, has been confirmed for the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 12, Racing Post reported on Sunday. Trainer William Muir confirmed the news, with the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp, also on Sept. 12, off the table.

The La Pyle Partnership, consisting of owner/breeders Roger Devlin and brothers Guy and Hugh Leach, raced Pyledriver to a listed success at two. The colt ran second in the G3 Unibet Classic Trial S. over the Kempton all-weather on June 3, before burnishing his G1 Investec Derby claims with a two-length victory in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot later that month. After a difficult run in the July 4 Derby, Pyledriver sped to a 3 1/2-length score in the Great Voltigeur.

“The plan at the moment is to look at the Leger as long as I’m happy with him-and he looks to be in superb form,” Muir told Racing Post. “He’s in the Grand Prix de Paris, but the Leger is for 3-year-olds only, it’s a Classic and at this stage, that’s where we’re going. The owners said you only get one crack at a Classic and the worst that can happen is that he doesn’t stay, he gets beaten and we put him away for the year.”

Shadwell’s Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. at Newbury on Aug. 15, is another under consideration for the final Classic of the British season. A winner at second asking at Kempton last November, Hukum took the King George V S. at Royal Ascot on June 17 before his Geoffrey Freer success.

Trainer Owen Burrows said, “Touch wood, he’s come out of the race very well, but nothing has been finalised as to where he’ll go next. He certainly wasn’t stopping at either Ascot or Newbury, so I can’t see the trip being an issue, but I have to keep stressing he shows plenty of pace at home and is not simply a stayer.

“I thought William Muir’s horse was very impressive in the Great Voltigeur, especially with a penalty, but you’d have to say Aidan [O’Brien] appears to hold all the cards with Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) and a few others. But, this year more than any, if you think you might have a horse for it you’ll be tempted to go. We’ll speak to Sheikh Hamdan, but the Leger does look the logical next step.”

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