Where is racing still happening and when could countries start up again?

With the coronavirus having spread to every corner of the globe racing has been disrupted in all major jurisdictions. We outline the state of play for horseracing in each country and what plans are in place for a return . . .

Britain

Racing suspended since March 18

After two days of racing behind closed doors, and just over a week after the Cheltenham Festival began, racing was suspended from March 18 until the end of April. Plans, which would see racing around a series of hubs across the country, are in place for a potential restart on May 1.

Fixtures could take place a week at a time with all individuals needed for action to take place staying at on-site hotels. Newmarket would be an obvious candidate for this plan with all of the necessary facilities in place, but discussions are ongoing.

The jumps season has been cancelled and will not resume until at least July 1, with plans in place to run extra fixtures in August in September to help courses who have lost meetings regain some revenue.

Ireland

Racing suspended since March 24

Horse Racing Ireland took the decision to move racing behind closed doors on March 13, the day the Gold Cup took place in front of a capacity crowd at Cheltenham. Racing was suspended from March 25 and will not return until at least April 19.

This meant the cancellation of two of Irish racing's biggest jump meetings - the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and the Punchestown festival. However, there are plans in place to switch the Irish Grand National to the autumn.

Europe

Racing suspended in some countries

Racing in France was forced into shutdown on March 17 for a month and will not resume until at least April 15. Germany followed suit shortly after, while Italy - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe - and Belgium cancelled racing on March 15.

Sweden

Racing continuing behind closed doors

Sweden is the only country in Europe not to issue any lockdown measures in a bid to tackle the coronavirus. The country has been taking a radical approach by putting trust in the public to do the right thing, but did imply measures were going to be tightened on April 5. Racing continues behind closed doors.

US

Racing continues behind closed doors at some tracks

Many tracks in the US have taken the decision to close but this has not been enforced by the government. The tracks still racing are doing so behind closed doors and include Fonner Park, Gulfstream, Los Alamitos (quarter horses), Remington Park (QHs), Tampa Bay and Will Rogers.

Racing is run on a state-by-state basis, so for example, Gulfstream and Tampa Bay are going ahead under the advice from Florida state, while Santa Anita was cancelled on March 27 under the advice from California.

South Africa

Racing suspended on March 24

South Africa had been hosting racing behind closed doors before the government announced a lockdown on the country bringing the sport to a halt until further notice.

UAE

Racing suspended on March 22

Racing had been continuing behind closed doors with plans to run Meydan's prestigious Dubai World Cup card on March 28. However, with six days to go until the meeting, the decision was taken to cancel the £30 million fixture.

Hong Kong

Racing continues behind closed doors

Racing continues behind closed doors with meetings at Happy Valley and Sha Tin taking place on a regular basis. Superstar miler Beauty Generation won a Group 2 at Sha Tin on Saturday and on April 26 the track is scheduled to host the Group 1 QEII Stakes, Chairman's Sprint Prize and Champions Mile - three of its most valuable races of the year.

Japan

Racing going ahead behind closed doors

Japan became one of the first major racing nations to host meetings behind closed doors, making the decision back on February 27, and has been operating under those restrictions since then.

Reports suggest the Japanese government is going to invoke emergency powers this week which will allow regions to set their own restrictions on movement, curfews and school cancellations etc. What effects this will have on racing remains to be seen but the sport is being assessed on a week-to-week basis.

Singapore

Racing suspended on April 4

Racing was continuing behind closed doors, but after the Singapore government issued stricter laws on April 3, it was announced the following day racing was to be suspended until May 4.

Australia

Racing continues behind closed doors in majority of states

Some racing is still taking place behind closed doors at some tracks with the sport closely following guidelines set out by the government and health authorities. The sport's governing bodies are state-based, so racing is dependent on state laws. Racing did temporarily shut down for a week on March 20, but resumed on March 27 behind closed doors.

The first state to cancel racing in Australia was Tasmania, with the sport suspended for four weeks on April 2.

Victoria, the state that hosts the Melbourne Cup, is racing behind closed doors, but stricter measures came into place on April 3.

New South Wales announced stricter measures by implementing bans on jockey segregation, the banning of interstate riders and trainers and restrictions on how horses arrive in the state.

Under this initiative, jockeys who were not located in New South Wales by 5pm on March 23, are not permitted to attend or ride at any NSW racecourse. This had significant repercussions as the announcement came in the middle of the valuable Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Racing in all other states is currently going ahead behind closed doors.

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Bookmakers have pledged to donate any profits from betting on the Virtual Grand National to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. You can donate to this important cause here