Andrew Nelis racing

Racing is set to go ahead as planned at the Curragh on Sunday despite local lockdown measures being imposed in County Kildare. The Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes is the highlight of an eight-race card at the venue and Horse Racing Ireland are not anticipating any issues after Ireland’s premier Micheal Martin announced a regional lockdown in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly following a surge in coronavirus cases. The revised measures, which will apply from midnight for two weeks, include restricting movement within the counties, with the exception of work purposes and other essential journeys; closure of restaurants and pubs serving food, apart from takeaway services, deliveries and limited outdoor dining; and the closure of indoor entertainment and sport venues such as cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries and bingo halls. However, HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh reports racing to be unaffected. He said: “We have had confirmation racing can continue behind closed door...

The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed an apprentice jockey has tested positive for coronavirus. The ruling body said the rider, who has not been named, has not ridden for “a few weeks”, but did recently attend a racing meeting. A BHA spokesman said: “Having been notified that an apprentice jockey had tested positive for coronavirus, the BHA has worked with the health protection agency, PJA, the jockey and their yard to assist their employer in following government guidance and managing the jockey’s recent close contacts. “A handful of people have been identified and asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a result. Further tests taken by close contacts have not returned any further positive results...                        Andrew Nelis Racing 

Sat 27 Jun 2020 Newbury  racecourse has attempted to recoup some of its losses incurred during Covid-19 by creating a pop-up  ‘Pub in the Paddock’ for guests to watch the Investec Derby. As well as the Derby, the Oaks will also be shown along with two live Premier League matches next Saturday. Tables and chairs will be set at socially-distanced levels, and the bars will be accepting only cashless payments. Tickets were free, but all available for a maximum attendance of 300 have already been reserved..                                Andrew Nelis 

Jockeys and stalls handlers are among those who will be required to wear masks under the protocols drawn up by the British Horseracing Authority ahead of the planned resumption of racing on June 1. The 33-page document outlines a series of measures to be employed should racing get the Government go-ahead to return to action for the first time since March. Completion of an online education module and screening of all participants before they are allowed to attend an event form the initial stage of the protocols, with further health-related questions and temperature checks carried out before people are allowed to enter racecourses

From famine to feast. Racing in Britain will return with a glut of big contests provided it  gets the green light to resume on June 1 . Provisional plans revealed by the BHA on Wednesday revealed that the first two Classics of the year – the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas sponsored by Qipco - have been inked in for the end of the first week of action. Twenty Listed or Group races have been planned for the first seven days with Royal Ascot following fast on their heels. All will be open to international runners. And once the royal meeting is over, there will be a swift countdown to the Investec Derby and Oaks, which have been pencilled in for July 4. The Guineas will be run within the first week of racing resuming under provisional plans released on Wednesday (Focosonracing) The following days the  Coral -Eclipse will be run – exclusively for four-year-olds and older if the Derby and Oaks can be staged the previous day. However, the BHA reiterated that “the exact ti...

Racing will resume in France as scheduled on Monday despite a last-minute threat to the plan. A report on Friday suggested a late challenge may be made to the Government's decision to allow racing to return, with France Galop and its trotting equivalent confirming they had been in discussions regarding the resumption plans. However, France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild tweeted late on Friday night to confirm clearance had been given for the action to recommence.

Victor Ludorum  heads eight declarations for Monday’s Prix de Fontainebleau at ParisLongchamp. French racing has been on hold since March due to the coronavirus crisis, but is set to make a high-profile return with no less than four Group races on the card. Victor Ludorum in the headline act in the traditional French 2000 Guineas trial over a mile, with Andre Fabre’s colt unbeaten in three juvenile starts, culminating in Group One glory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October. He is a son of Shamardal, who died last month, and Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin UK and Dubai, hopes Victor Ludorum can demonstrate his star potential. He told  www.godolphin.com  “We are delighted that our season here in Europe will start with Victor Ludorum going in the Prix de Fontainebleau on Monday. “We very sadly lost his outstanding sire Shamardal last month and it is very appropriate that we will see one of his brilliant three-year-old colts in action on day ...

Racing legend Sir Anthony McCoy has backed plans for the sport to return - possibly next month - having been on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Horseracing's governing body has drawn up detailed plans for the sport to make a return with unprecedented restrictions, which would see jockeys and officials living in quarantine at racecourses. There have been no race meetings anywhere in the UK since 17 March, but the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has come up with a radical proposal that could see racing resume, if the government and its scientific advisers back it

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has provided tentative hope that a resumption of racing could happen in Ireland this month, possibly as early as May 18. In addressing the nation outside government buildings on Friday evening, Varadkar announced the extension of the lockdown in Ireland until May 18, but with a few minor relaxations. Outdoor workers, including builders and gardeners, will be allowed to return to work from May 18 while some sporting activities will be permitted, Varadkar revealed.  It has been suggested that racing will be one of the first sports to benefit from the easing of restrictions.  However, in a roadmap for the phased reopening of sectors and activities, published on Friday evening, it stated that behind-closed-doors sporting activities and events would take place during stage three, projected for June 29. Nonetheless, with racing falling under the department of agriculture's remit, as is the case in France, there remains some prospect of racing m...

Monday's planned resumption of racing in Germany has been delayed, with the opening eight-race card at Dortmund postponed. Racing has been on hold since March due to the coronavirus outbreak, but authorities had hoped to restart the sport with a six-week programme of races announced, with no spectators and strict hygiene measures. However, Monday's meeting has not been given the necessary approval and will not go ahead.

Hopes of next week's Cheltenham Festival going ahead as scheduled received a boost on Tuesday as Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed no current plans to cancel mass events, despite the ongoing threat of coronavirus. The Government has set out a 'battle plan' in response to Covid-19, with a 27-page document released amid widespread concerns about the impact the virus will have on people's well-being, the economy and public services. Launching the plan at a Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had "no doubt at all" that the "country is going to get through coronavirus, and get through it in good shape".