Attendances down and labour shortages - but racecourses hopeful for 2022

British racecourses have experienced a troubled reopening in the three months since restrictions on crowds were lifted with attendances down on the equivalent period before the pandemic and labour shortages causing issues for tracks and spectators.

Ascot's director of racing and communications Nick Smith is hopeful crowds will grow in 2022 but admits the continued national shortage of staff “has to be a concern” for racecourses staging major events.

Statistics sourced from the Horserace Betting Levy Board revealed crowd numbers dropped by 19.7 per cent in August and 7.8 per cent in September compared to 2019.