THE Government today gave the go-ahead for racing to resume on Monday 1st June, so it’s official, racing goes ahead and Newcastle will create a bit of history as being the first course to stage racing in the UK post lockdown.
The BHA and all of racing’s stakeholders have been planning towards the resumption of racing for weeks but it needed the official sanction from Government and today it came.
The Secretary Of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden said: “The wait is over. Live British sport will shortly be back on in safe and carefully controlled environments.
“This guidance provides the safe framework for sports to resume competitions behind closed doors. It’s now up to individual sports to confirm they can meet these protocols and decide when it’s right for them to restart.
“This is a significant moment for British sport. By working with clinicians every step of the way, we’re creating the safest possible environments for everyone involved.”
So, racing resumes with a 10-race card at Gosforth Park, starting at 1pm with a Class 4 0-65 handicap for 4yos and upwards over a mile. Whoever wins this could possibly be the subject of a very niche racing quiz question!
Harper Lodge Farm has no runners at Newcastle as it is a track too far to travel there and back in a day, which is one of the requirements of the new resumption of racing regulations – horses cannot be stabled overnight.
However, the yard’s first runner will be Charming Kid (pictured) on Tuesday 2 June at Kempton Park. The 4yo son of Charm Spirit is one of 10 runners in the 0-85 handicap for 4yos and upwards over 5f.
He’s drawn 10 of 10 which is not great but good luck to The Cool Silk Partnership and jockey George Downing who has his first ride for the yard.