Leading trainer Kim Bailey on the effects of the coronavirus crisis
“Life in a racing yard is pretty interesting at the moment.
“We’ve roughed most of our winter horses off which means taking their rugs off during the day and putting them back on at night because it’s been so cold.
“We're keen to turn those horses out but currently the grass isn’t growing and the paddocks I’ve used over the winter certainly aren’t ready for anything over the summer. We’re waiting for a growth of grass and much warmer weather before we can turn them out fully.
“We are riding out about 18 to 20 horses, mostly youngsters, and we’re going to educate them a little further. We’ve been schooling them over hurdles, doing things you normally do at the end of season to keep everyone ticking over.
“There are one or two horses we thought might run in bumpers if and when racing starts so we’re keeping them going just in case. It's important owners have something to look forward to.
“Long-term we’ll be letting staff off as and when we can and they’ll be looked after but there’s plenty of work to do in the yard at the moment.
“As we empty stables and horses go home to their owners we have to steam clean and paint everything, there’s lots to do and work happening everywhere. It’s just six weeks earlier than you'd expect.
“Morale is high, my hostel has 12 people in it and they all get on well and are looking after each other better than before – taking their turns to go shopping etc.
“It's dull going into a yard, seeing not a lot happening, it's not something a trainer wants to see. From our point of view training fees are having to be cut because horses are on box rest and the long-term effect of what’s happening is frightening.
“I worry for some trainer’s futures the longer it goes on.”
