Lockinge 'unlikely' to happen in May and could be first Group 1 to be cancelled

Officials at Newbury believe the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is "unlikely" to go ahead as planned, with some fears that the race could be the first Group 1 Flat race in Britain to be cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The famous mile contest, the feature event of a two-day meeting on May 15-16, has been staged every year since 1975 and won by some of the greatest Flat horses in history including Brigadier Gerard and Frankel.

There is uncertainty about how the Pattern will evolve after racing resumes. So far, only the four Classic races, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Derby, are confirmed to be rescheduled as the BHA regards them as "generation-defining races".

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The Lockinge, meanwhile, is one of four Group 1 races held in Britain over a mile for older horses, with the Queen Anne, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes staged later in the season.

Harriet Collins, sponsorship director at Newbury racecourse, said: "We may lose some of those Pattern races so I think it'd be fair to say it looks unlikely that the Lockinge in its current form will be taking place on that day [May 16]. It is hard to see it taking place in May.

"We're working with the relevant parties, including our sponsors, to get back racing behind closed doors and that is the priority for us at this stage. What happens after, we will have to see."

Newbury are working to offer the course as a potential host to behind-closed-doors racing when the sport eventually resumes.

The team at the Berkshire racecourse have been maintaining the track to peak condition and staff are scenario planning in order to be in a position to stage racing again "very quickly".

Newbury: track looking in great shape on MondayCredit: Newbury Racecourse

Newbury is an obvious choice for a racing hub, with the course based 14 miles from key training base Lambourn. It also has an on-site hotel, The Lodge, with 36 rooms, which is believed to be a key feature in possible venues the BHA is examining for when racing can resume behind closed doors.

Collins added: "We're doing everything we can but whether we'll be in the first phase I have no idea. We would hope that Newbury is viewed in a good position, in terms of the proximity to Lambourn.

"Keith [Ottesen] is getting the track ready at the moment and it looks fantastic. We're doing everything we possibly can to be in a position where, as soon as the BHA and the government say racing can take place behind closed doors, we can make that happen very quickly.

She added: "There is a lot of angst about when racing will be back but we need to make sure we are responsible and that it is done in a safe environment.

"I'm not close enough to know what sort of protective measures or quarantined areas are required from a BHA perspective. I know that there are thoughts about other hubs with bigger hotels to help with that. But we feel confident that we're in a position with enough open space to be able to be considered at some point as a safe environment in which racing can take place behind closed doors."

While preparing for a resumption of racing, Newbury has also been helping out the Berkshire community by offering services such as Meals on Wheels, preparing and delivering hot food for elderly people during the coronavirus crisis.

As of Monday, 124,743 had tested positive for the coronavirus in Britain and 16,509 have died.

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