BHA extends suspension of racing in England

The British Horseracing Authority, ruling body of the sport in England, announced Wednesday it was indefinitely extending a suspension of all racing that began March 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The BHA’s initial plan, which went into effect before a general governmental countrywide shutdown came into force, listed April 30 as a target date to resume spectator-free racing, but the BHA has decided that’s no longer feasible.

"We stopped racing in March to protect the health and safety of the public and to limit demands on the [National Health Service],” BHA chief executive Nick Rust said in a release. “It’s right to continue this suspension until the pressure on the NHS allows for a resumption and we can assure the safety of those taking part.”

The BHA said it remains hopeful racing can resume sometime in May, though it expects racing with spectators wouldn’t be possible until June, at earliest. Ascot Racecourse recently announced that its Royal meeting, scheduled for June 16 through June 20, would take place spectator-free if it’s able to be held at all.

Racing throughout Europe has been halted because of coronavirus with Ireland the last jurisdiction to cease operations, doing so on March 25. Germany has announced a plan to resume racing on a limited scale May 1.