UK Racing Adapting Coronavirus Plan

Following the temporary shutdown of racing in the UK on Monday due to the coronavirus, industry leaders from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association (RCA), National Trainers Federation (NTF) and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) met Thursday morning to work on an assessment of immediate needs and identify funding available from government and industry sources as a priority.

This is a change in the industry's coronavirus plan from allowing racing to continue behind closed doors. The BHA is also liaising with key departments in the government to ensure they are aware of the issues that have already been encountered in the racing industry since the shutdown. These efforts will assist the industry in putting forward a request for government support. The initial plan will be finalised in another meeting by industry leaders on Friday morning. There is a also a plan for racing's resumption in the works as well, which will allow the industry to resume as soon as possible when given the green light.

The industry plan to handle the coronavirus currently includes:

• finance–This work is led by senior executives and is assessing the financial needs of racecourses, trainers, breeders, other employers and those working in racing. All avenues of potential assistance are being explored. It is supported by the BHA's Public Affairs Team which is in daily contact with government.
• People–Dawn Goodfellow from Racing Welfare has joined the Industry's COVID19 Group and will work initially to coordinate help for individuals, supported by the Industry People team led by Will Lambe at the BHA.
• Medical–Dr. Iain McNeil, the RCA's Medical Advisor and Dr. Jerry Hill from the BHA continue to provide racing with advice on how the pandemic is developing and actions to be taken.
• Equine Sector–George Noad from the NTF, Claire Sheppard from the TBA and Charlie Liverton from the ROA provide an overview of the impact on trainers, breeders, their staff and jockeys as well as the needs of owners. Dr. David Sykes, the BHA's Director of Equine Health and Welfare, will develop a welfare and veterinary response to support those looking after horses.

Once racing can resume, focal points for its resumption are:

• Race-day Resilience and Planning–This work is to ensure that all requirements are in place to run race-days when possible. Caroline Davies leads for the RCA, whilst Brant Dunshea, the Chief Regulatory Officer of the BHA, will ensure that all regulatory functions are maintained, including stewarding, integrity and veterinary resources.
• Fixtures and race programmes–Richard Wayman from the BHA leads a tripartite team planning a schedule for resumption, with Ruth Quinn leading on the Pattern and international engagement.

The BHA is providing project management and support for the industry group, led by BHA Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Martin Fewell. That same team is also dealing with media and the government, with the BHA Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Alison Enticknap, leading engagement with the racing industry as the plan develops. Trainers, owners, stable staff, jockeys, breeders and racecourse staff are encouraged to check their respective membership organisations' websites for specific information and regular updates and to contact these organisations directly if they have further questions. Racing Together is identifying ways in which racing may be able to support the wider community effort to tackle the impact of the virus, while the BHA is also looking at how to fill resource gaps that emerge in the industry through Brant Dunshea.

The BHA's Chief Executive Nick Rust, who chairs the Industry Group, said, “The effort from across the sport at the moment is incredible. There is a determination that racing will not be beaten by this shutdown. The willingness to help is universal. We will do all we can to keep people informed as we progress.”

“We are acutely aware that the current situation will be resulting in immediate hardship for many people from a whole range of different roles across the industry, said Chief Executive of Racing Welfare Dawn Goodfellow. “We are working hard to ensure that any available funds that the industry can provide are disbursed quickly, fairly and transparently to those in most need.”

Rob Hezel, the Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, which has managed since 2012 the funds received by racing after the sale of the Tote, added, “We are working as fast as possible with senior racing executives to work out how best to use our resources to support the developing plan. We are also liaising with other funding bodies to increase the levels of support that can be made available and we are examining the pressures being faced by racing's charities so we can help them wherever possible too.”