The essential info you need to know if you plan to visit a racetrack

You have your pre-ordered tickets, the weather is not preparing any last-minute surprises and the stage is set for a return to seeing the sport so many of us love for the first time since mid-March.

Haydock, Kempton, Lingfield and Ludlow get the ball rolling on Wednesday and for the lucky few who will be able to say "I was there", it promises to be a day to remember.

The tracks have been looking forward to this day as much as the fans and nobody wants to see anyone turned away at the gate. Fortunately, the procedures you need to follow are simple and straightforward.

When you get to the course, make sure you have your ticket or your annual members' badge, along with some form of ID, and that you are wearing a face mask or covering.

Trainers and jockeys such as Sam Hitchcott have been having their temperature checked with a swift and simple test ever since the return of racing in Britain on June 1Credit: Steve Davies (Getty Images)

Once the gate staff have confirmed they are expecting you, they may conduct a simple temperature check, or ask a couple of questions.

With between 600 and 2,000 extra people expected, everyone will be keen to make it as swift and painless as possible, while the government guidelines urge venues to avoid bottlenecks.

All tracks have divided the enclosures into green zones for the active participants and amber zones for owners, members and the public.

Expect a host of helpful signs directing you where to go and – in a few cases – where not to go, as well as plenty of stewards and racecourse staff to ask if in doubt.

Apart from that, the guidelines are not so different to visiting the high street or a garden centre, in terms of keeping a two-metre distance from people not in your immediate group.

You will need to keep your face covered throughout the day, with the exception of when you eat and drink. Catering will look very similar to what many who visited a restaurant or pub became used to before lockdown.

Masks or face coverings will be compulsory when fans return to the track on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann

For example, Lingfield offers combined tickets featuring general entry and a pre-booked fish-and-chip lunch in three time slots, with a maximum of six people from the same household per table.

Sporting venues are exempt from two requirements demanded in wider society, namely table service for food and only serving alcohol as part of a substantial meal, though at least in the early days that may well be the model many racecourses choose to adopt.

Jockey Club Racecourses is publishing digital racecards through its website and app for Kempton and Haydock, but racecards for all meetings are available on the Racing Post free app and website.

Individual on-course bookmakers are authorised to take cash, but it will be up to individual pitches as to what their preferred transaction method is. Contactless debit card transactions are preferred if you decide to bet on the Tote, but cash betting will be available at all facilities across Britbet's courses, which include all four of Wednesday's venues.

It may not be quite as we remember but all of the constituent parts of the raceday experience will be there, with the courses and their staff geared up to help, not hinder.

But one thing you shouldn't do is turn up without an advanced ticket.

Along with all Jockey Club racecourses, Haydock and Kempton advise booking at least 48 hours in advance in order for them to complete postcode checks – remember you will not be allowed on to a racecourse if you live in a Tier 3 area – while Lingfield's online booking closes at midnight on Tuesday going into Wednesday.

As for Ludlow – the only independent track that will be racing on day one – all bookings have been handled over the phone and the course executive expects to have confirmed its 600-650 attendees by around 4pm on Tuesday.

Read more . . .

Altior odds-on for Tingle Creek as eight left in contention

'Top-class rider' Jerry McGrath set to partner Santini in Aintree comeback

Get ready for a fantastic week of action with spectators and Altior returning

Six horses to take away from the action at Newbury, Newcastle and Fairyhouse

Ultimate Daily – our daily newsletters from Racing Post's experts, exclusive to the inbox of Ultimate Members' Club subscribers. To receive the newsletter subscribe at racingpost.com/members-club