Government rules about sport’s return may appear just two days before racing’s return but the BHA remains confident
Prominent trainers were in disbelief on Friday evening with racing three days away from its planned resumption but with no clear signal from the government on whether a return to action will be allowed. After feverish preparations, Newcastle racecourse has anti-infection precautions in place for the arrival on Monday of 120 horses and their connections, but fears persist that the whole enterprise could yet be brought to a halt.
“It’s incredible,” said the trainer Richard Fahey, who has seven horses due to run on Monday. “It’s beyond belief to think that we’re at this stage and we 100% don’t know. But the government don’t seem to be giving strong guidance on everything.
Boris Johnson did say we’ve covered the five tests, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t race. He must know we’re racing on Monday and he hasn’t said we can’t.”