ARC Chief Believes UK Racing Could Run Spectatorless Within Next 48 Hours

[Wandering Eyes]

Arena Racing Company Chief Executive Martin Cruddace, whose company owns 16 British racecourses, believes British racing could go behind closed doors “within 48 hours” as a result of the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Ireland and Scotland both have enacted bans on gatherings of 500 people or more, and France closed all non-essential businesses on Saturday evening. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) continues to follow the Government’s directive, and the four-day Cheltenham Festival took place before large crowds with significantly increased hygiene facilities and multiple hand sanitiser stations for racegoers.

Speaking on Sky Sports Racing‘s Sunday morning programme, Racing Debate, Cruddace said, “Where we are right now is that we are following the current Government advice, but I think it’s safe to say that [Government stance] is very, very likely to change and is very, very likely to change imminently and it’s important that we are prepared–and we are–for what’s going to come our way. We all have our views on Cheltenham and Uttoxeter, and they are perfectly legitimate views one way or another, but the fact is as a responsible company there’s one institution you look to for guidance and that’s the Government.

“It’s not for me to say the chief medical adviser or chief scientific adviser or Government, with all of its incredible support and infrastructure, is wrong. The only thing that we can do as a responsible company and, dare I say it, an industry, is to follow Government advice.”

Cruddace expects a change in that advice in the very near future–and said it was not impossible that racing could take place behind closed doors for several months. The next major British meeting is the Aintree Grand National from Apr. 2-4, while Newmarket’s Guineas Festival is slated for early May, the G1 Investec Derby meeting is scheduled for early June and Royal Ascot later that month.

“We are outliers with other parts of the racing world, but I think it’s only right that we should be prepared for an imminent change and my own personal view is it could be within 48 hours,” said Cruddace. “We’re planning, worst case scenario, end of June. It is absolutely possible we won’t race again in front of a crowd until the end of June.”

While a continuation of racing behind closed doors would be considered far better than no racing at all, it will, of course, still have huge financial ramifications for the sport.

Asked how how serious the situation was for his company, Cruddace added, “It’s particularly serious, I think we can weather the storm, but it will mean that unless we have support elsewhere we will not be able to put the fixtures on that the industry or the bookmaking industry needs.

“I think viability of racecourses is seriously in question, unless as an industry we work together and find the support that I think might be out there.”

Race meetings in Scotland and Ireland are already being run behind closed doors, with stringent measures in place to limit the number of people on course. Racing in Ireland took place under the new guidelines at Dundalk on Friday and Navan on Saturday, and also at Limerick on Sunday.

Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, admits the situation is ever changing.

He said on Racing TV‘s Luck on Sunday programme, “So far we’ve had two meetings under the ‘closed door’ policy and they went fine. There were a couple of little learnings, but nothing major. Obviously we don’t know what is around the corner with this outbreak and we’re conscious that it was the infection of coaches and players which effectively closed the football down. That is the sort of thing you would be concerned about.

“We’re confident at the moment. We had the meeting in Navan on Sunday, which would usually have 2,500 people. It went ahead with less than 300 people there and most of them were either involved with a horse or working at the meeting. That’s comfortably within the [Irish] Government’s guidelines of limits of 500 people.”

He added, “The initial Government instruction was until Mar. 29, so for the next two weeks at least we will be under these circumstances. Who knows what happens thereafter? Navan on Saturday was a sorry sight to see, but you’ve got to look at the bigger picture–there’s a major public health issue here, so we’re just glad to be able to keep racing.”

Like Cruddace, Kavanagh acknowledges racing behind closed doors will have significant economic implications, not only for the ruling body but for the sport as a whole.

He said, “The longer it goes on it will be a challenge [for HRI financially], but I don’t think that’s the important issue at the moment, the important issue is to try to get a grip on this disease and its spread. I think it’s our duty to try and keep the wheels turning–keep prize-money going into the system and keep people earning a living.

“Anyone working in yards are dependent on racing continuing, so it is a concern. It’s a concern probably as much for racecourses as it is for Horse Racing Ireland as they’re losing sponsorship and gate receipts. You can survive on media rights revenue for a couple of meetings, as a long-term proposition that’s not viable, but there’s no choice.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a Bill setting out emergency powers to deal with the outbreak will be published on Thursday, and details of what the powers will include will be shared on Tuesday.

Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Hancock said ministers are yet to make a decision on whether to ban gatherings of over 500 people in the rest of the UK, after Scotland said it would bring in restrictions from Monday.

“We are absolutely ready to do that as necessary,” he said, but he pointed towards a Cobra meeting being held on Monday when asked when the decision will be made.

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