Racing will continue behind closed doors in areas under Covid-19 Tier Four restrictions with owners able to attend King George VI chase meeting at Kempton under strict protocols
- Two-day King George VI race meeting at Kempton to go ahead without crowds
- New Tier Four Covid-19 restrictions have been imposed on London and South
- But BHA confirmed the meet will take place with only 45 allowed on the course
The BHA has confirmed that racing would be able to continue behind closed doors during the new Tier Four restrictions.
Owners will be able to attend Kempton’s two-day King George VI Chase meeting on December 26 and 27 but only under strict protocols which in the past have deterred the vast majority from attending the track.
A BHA spokesman said: ‘A government official has confirmed to the BHA that Tier 4 is equivalent to the restrictions that applied to elite sports in the second national lockdown in November.
The two-day King George VI Chase meeting at Kempton Park in Surrey on December 26/27 will go ahead behind closed doors despite the new Tier Four Covid-19 restrictions
The grandstand at Kempton Park Racecourse will be unusually empty on Boxing Day
‘Racing will continue behind closed doors in Tier 4 in England with no spectators and owners subjected to the same restrictions as November, which limit attendance to a maximum of 45 on the course at any point.
‘Owners attending must comply with the BHA’s protocols as well as national guidance, and satisfy themselves that their travel to, and attendance at, race meetings is legitimately linked to their business involvement in British racing.
‘Each individual racecourse will provide information specific to their events which owners are asked to check before attending.’
Racing once again faces the financial blow of bookmakers having to close in large parts of the country with media rights and Levy income hit.
