BHA treads carefully over Monday reopening as weighing-room controls remain

The great reopening of England on Monday, when coronavirus restrictions are being lifted, is being treated with a degree of caution by the BHA, which will retain a controlled zone around the weighing room as the sport "must do what we can to protect our people and industry".

While the bulk of measures which have been in place on racecourses in England since June 1 last year will be removed, such as the requirement to wear face coverings or pre-book attendance, the weighing room will continue to be closely controlled.

The need for continuing protection in some areas of the course was stressed by Dr Jerry Hill – the BHA's chief medical adviser, who was made an MBE last month for his services to horseracing having been at the centre of creating the sport's health protocols for resumption – with Covid-19 cases rising again in England.

Hill cited the ongoing requirement of those who have been in close contact with a confirmed Covid-19 infection to self-isolate for ten days as potentially damaging to racing.

"While the full return of spectators and the further easing of restrictions is welcome, with cases continuing to rise, racing must do what we can to protect our people and industry – especially against the ongoing risk of ten-day self-isolation for close contacts of infected individuals," Hill said on Thursday.

"The best way to bolster protection is through vaccination, accompanied by regular lateral flow testing, but we will also retain some measures on course to help protect those participants working in higher-risk indoor areas, particularly the weighing-room complex."

Entry to the weighing room will be restricted to jockeys, valets and staff linked to the racecourse, the BHA and medics. Social-distancing rules will be retained, as will the need to wear a mask, while saunas remain out of bounds. Anyone working in the weighing room will continue to not be permitted to attend more than one fixture a day.

Hill said: "Racing has demonstrated throughout the pandemic our ability to conduct meetings safely and sensibly, with participants adapting quickly to new processes and following rigorously the infection control measures in place.

"As ever, I want to thank everyone for their adherence to the protocols and continuing to behave responsibly on course. Avoiding disruption to the racing industry must remain our utmost priority – and everyone can play their part in this respect."

Overnight accommodation for horses and staff travelling long distances is being reintroduced, while restrictions on the number of owners able to attend are being lifted.

Pre-attendance screening is being dropped for those going racing, although individuals are "encouraged" to take lateral flow tests and use the NHS test and trace app. Mask use is also "recommended" indoors and in crowded areas, but there is no requirement for them.

The BHA's plans dovetail with those announced by the Racecourse Association, which published an eight-point plan on how racegoers can safely help accommodate the return of full crowds.

Restrictions are being lifted for crowds to return in greater numbers in England from MondayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

In Wales, most restrictions are due to end on August 7, but racecourses received a boost on Wednesday with news that outdoor events would be given greater flexibility over social distancing from Saturday. In Scotland, racecourses will be able to welcome at least 1,000 spectators from Monday.

Among the requests for spectators is that all attendees are being encouraged to take lateral flow tests before going racing and to continue wearing face coverings in busy indoor areas, or in accordance with the national restrictions for Scotland and Wales.

The RCA's eight requests to racegoers

• Please vaccinate where possible to maximise protection to fellow racegoers and members of staff. Vaccination remains a key priority in the response to the pandemic.
• Use the government's offer of free lateral flow tests; consider taking one before you travel.
• Do not attend if you have symptoms or are in any doubt about your health.
• If travelling to the racecourse via public transport, please adhere to the relevant guidance.
• Respect the rules of the venue you are attending and check in advance with the racecourse to see what is required.
• Wear face coverings in busy indoor areas or in accordance with the national restrictions for Scotland and Wales (check with the racecourse in advance if you are unsure).
• Ensure you are familiar with social-distancing restrictions where these apply (from August 7 in Wales and August 9 in Scotland).
• Treat stewards with respect and adhere to their requests.

RCA chief executive David Armstrong said: "We are very excited to welcome back all racegoers from Monday in England. As an outdoor event, people can have confidence in attending a race meeting in safety.

"Nevertheless, we encourage all to continue to follow the recommended advice and in particular, to check on any restrictions that are still in place in Scotland and Wales. The safety of our racegoers will always be our top priority."

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