Chancellor Rishi Sunak 'understands that racing is very important'

In difficult times, racing looks to have a friend in high places in Rishi Sunak, whose website finds space to recall a visit to Catterick racecourse.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose calm but decisive manner and swift bailout for the economy has caused his stock to rise markedly during the coronavirus crisis, is MP for Richmond, which includes the racecourse and the training centre of Middleham.

He visited the track in 2014 and said at the time: "I met with directors at Catterick racecourse to discuss the key issues facing the industry and how best we can support this fantastic Yorkshire tradition. Horse racing is a key part of Yorkshire's economy and culture."

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Catterick clerk of the course Fiona Needham said on Saturday: "He talks to the trainers at Middleham a lot, I've seen him at the local point-to-point and he's very knowledgeable. He's quite involved and he's very aware of racing, which is a good thing.

"He's always been very approachable and very helpful."

Director James Sanderson added: "He seemed like a very grounded guy, very down to earth and very interested in how the business worked and the functioning of racing. He understood the importance of racing in his constituency."

Asked if Sunak would represent racing's interests at the highest level of government, he said: "I'd be amazed if he didn't. He understands that racing is very important and a big part of his constituency is racing.

"We explained how racing is financed, the interweaving of the various income streams, and he got that, he's a very bright bloke."

Shutting down racing until at least the end of April means a delayed start to the Flat season at Catterick and fellow International Racecourse Management courses Redcar and Thirsk - which stages a third of its meetings in April and May.

But a defiant Sanderson said: "It's going to be a very significant financial challenge but speaking for our tracks we're in a position where we can weather a storm for a while. We're not going to go to the wall quickly.

"We'll do it by being very prudent and very sensible and taking advantage of the streams of aid which are available to us. We look forward to hearing what racing can do with the reserves its got in the Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, that's racing's rainy day fund to help keep the industry going, and any more help from the government."

Groundstaff continue to maintain the tracks during the shutdown and Sanderson said: "You can't let your racecourse turn into a hayfield or you won't be coming back fast enough when racing does come back.

"Keeping the track ready to resume racing at a moment's notice is the most fundamental thing. We're doing the basics to maintain the racecourses so we can reopen very quickly when we have to."

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