Key dates and big race schedule ahead of racing's resumption following 2020 coronavirus lockdown
When will racing resume following the coronavirus lockdown and what are the plans for the big races? Check out our timeline and schedule for all the key dates and events through the summer.
Racing in Britain has been suspended since March 17 amid the global coronavirus pandemic, with the last meetings to take place being staged at Wetherby and Taunton, both behind closed doors, but plans are in place to resume on June 1, pending government sign-off.
Social distancing restrictions will be employed, along with facial coverings for those deemed likely to need to breach the two-metre rule, including jockeys, trainers, stalls handlers, stable staff and valets.
The British Horseracing Authority is also planning an ongoing surveillance programme to monitor the virus in the racing communities, which will include some testing, while the sport will try to reduce the use of any medical or NHS services to a minimum, employing other health care resources, such as private ambulances, hospitals and medics, to protect the NHS.
Social distancing officers will be appointed by the BHA to ensure all measures are implemented and strictly adhered to at all racedays.
But how will the programme look on resumption?
Here is a clear timeline of the current proposed plans, highlighting when and where all the major races are set to be staged.
June
1st - Flat racing resumes in Britain at Newcastle with an eight-race afternoon meeting
2nd - Day two in Britain sees another meeting at Newcastle, plus Kempton - both on the all-weather
3rd - First Pattern races in the UK, featuring the Group 3 Classic Trial & Listed EBF Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes, both at Kempton. Yarmouth also plays host to the first turf meeting with a bumper nine-race programme
4th - Group 3 Pavillion Stakes, Newcastle (switched from Ascot). Newmarket also stages its first planned meeting
5th - Group 1 Coronation Cup (switched from Epsom), Group 3 Abernant Stakes & Listed Paradise Stakes (both switched from Ascot), Newmarket. Listed Oaks Trial and Derby Trial, Lingfield
6th - Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Group 2 Dahlia Fillies' Stakes & Group 3 Palace House Stakes, Newmarket. Action also planned at Newcastle and Lingfield
7th - Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Listed Buckhounds Stakes & Listed EBF Pretty Polly Fillies' Stakes, Newmarket. The Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes set for Haydock (switched from Sandown)
8th - Flat racing resumes in Ireland at Naas
9th - Listed 1,000 Guineas Trial & Listed 2,000 Guineas Trial, Leopardstown
10th - Listed Heritage Stakes & Listed Salsabil Stakes, Navan
12th - Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas & Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, The Curragh
13th - Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas & Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, The Curragh
14th - Listed Saval Beg Stakes and Listed Noblesse Stakes, Leopardstown
16th-20th - Royal Ascot (click here for schedule amendments and more details)
21st - Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes, Leopardstown (switched from Naas)
22nd - Jumps racing resumes in Ireland, Limerick
27th - Group 1 Irish Derby, The Curragh
28th - Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes & Rockingham Handicap, The Curragh
July
1st - Jumps racing resumes in Britain, Southwell
4th - Investec Derby & Investec Oaks, Epsom
5th - Coral-Eclipse, Sandown
9th-11th - July Festival, Newmarket
18th - Irish Oaks, The Curragh
27th - Guinness Galway Hurdle & Tote.com Galway Plate, Galway
28th-Aug 1st - Qatar Goodwood Festival, Goodwood
August
19th-22nd - Ebor Festival, York
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
