Latest racecourse attendances show sharp drop as cost of living crisis hits home

Attendances at British racecourses last month were almost a third below their pre-Covid levels in the latest sign the cost of living crisis is taking a heavy toll on the sport.

The average attendance at tracks in May was 2,951 compared to 4,179 for the same month in 2019, the most recent year in which there were no coronavirus restrictions.

According to BHA figures going back to 1995, it is the first time average attendances at British courses in May have fallen below 3,000, barring the pandemic-affected years.