Coronavirus in Sport – the impact on Horse Racing
This is a continuously updated account of how horse racing has been impacted by the developing coronavirus pandemic. For information on how the virus has affected other sports, click here.
British Horse Racing
4th May - The British Horse Racing Authority are planning for a possible return to action for Horse Racing in Britain on May 15.
7th April - The first four Classics of the season have been postponed while Royal Ascot remains in place for now but will not be open for the public to attend.
3rd April - The BHA suspends the jump season until the 1st July with the focus set to be on the flat season with hopes that racing can resume behind closed doors on the 1st May.
17th March - The British Horse Racing Authority announces the suspension of all British Horse Racing until the end of April.
16th March - British Horse Racing is to be held behind closed doors until at least the end of March.
16th March - The Jockey Club announces the cancellation of the 2020 Grand National.
Irish Horse Racing
4th May - Horse Racing Ireland are awaiting news from the government which could decide whether racing will resume in May or at the end of June.
1st April - Horse Racing Ireland announces that the 2019/20 jumps season is officially over with the Punchestown festival among the casualties.
24th March - All Horse Racing and sporting events in Ireland have been suspended until April 19th following an announcement from the Irish government.
17th March - Horse Racing Ireland to meet on Wednesday 18th March to discuss future fixtures and whether they should go ahead.
12th March - Horse Racing Ireland have announced that all racing will take place behind closed doors from March 13th until March 29th.
French Horse Racing
4th May - Racing in France could be set to return behind closed doors at Longchamp
on May 11, with France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild saying that Paris police have given permission for racing to resume.
16th March - French Galop and LeTROT issue a joint statement suspending race meetings in France until April 25th.
US Horse Racing
17th March - The 146th Kentucky Derby has been postponed and rescheduled from its original date of May 2nd to take place instead on September 5th
16th March - The 2020 Spring Race at Keeneland due to take place from April 2nd through to April 24th has been cancelled.
Dubai Horse Racing
23rd March - The Dubai World Cup scheduled to take place on March 28th at Meydan Racecourse has been postponed.
