Wincanton and Fontwell disappointed to lose out but Catterick set for sellout

Officials at Wincanton have reacted with disappointment after the government's changes to Covid-19 tier restrictions announced on Wednesday ruled out a crowd approaching 1,000 for its Boxing Day fixture.

Wincanton had been the sole racecourse in Britain set to allow in the general public on Boxing Day until the government's latest announcement moved Somerset into Tier 3 from its previous Tier 2 status.

The Somerset track had admitted crowds for its previous two meetings and was poised to welcome more than 700 spectators, in addition to owners, for its traditional fixture on December 26, highlighted by a Pertemps Hurdle qualifier.

Daniel Cooper, clerk of the course at Wincanton, said: "Unfortunately we are now in a Tier 3 area, so the 700 or so who bought tickets to come on Boxing Day will get a refund.

"It's a shame as with the owners in as well we would have had a crowd of around 1,000, and the hospitality and restaurants were all well up on bookings. We would have had a nice atmosphere as for our previous meetings we've only had around 300 people."

Wincanton's next meeting is scheduled for January 9 and Cooper added: "There is another tier update before then, so we don't know where we'll be."

Cooper said conditions were heavy, soft in places for the Boxing Day fixture, with two drying days forecast.

Another track robbed of the chance to welcome spectators on course over the festive period is Fontwell after it moved from a Tier 2 to Tier 4 region from Boxing Day.

The West Sussex venue, which hopes to race on Monday providing the track passes a scheduled inspection on Saturday morning, had hoped to host around 1,000 paying customers until plans were dashed.

Sam Cone, head of communications at Arena Racing Company, owners of the track, said: "Sadly, moving Sussex into Tier 4 means we won't be able to have the public at our meeting on December 28, which is a shame as ticket sales had been going well.

"The traditional Boxing Day fixture, which this year had been moved back two days, was the most popular of the year at the track, so it's a big blow."

Catterick: set to welcome 800 racegoers on MondayCredit: Pool

Things are looking brighter for Catterick's meeting on Monday as North Yorkshire remains in Tier 2 and so a sellout crowd can attend.

Clerk of the course Fiona Needham said: "All the tickets went after just 24 hours as I think people are just desperate to get out and do something over the Christmas period.

"We've had to restrict numbers to 800, including owners, but it's proved very popular. We have Tier 3 areas all around us here in North Yorkshire but are good to go, although we have had to refund a small number of people whose areas have changed from Tier 2 to Tier 3 and can't now come."

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