Ayr set to be hit hard by shutdown with Scottish National among lost fixtures

In normal circumstances, Ayr would be abuzz this week in the build-up to its two-day Coral Scottish Grand National meeting. But things could not be any further from normal and the track is bracing itself for a significant financial hit with the fixture lost while British racing is in shutdown.

From this Friday until May 20, Ayr was scheduled to host seven fixtures across a 33 day-period, with any prolonged absence of racing likely to come at a sizeable cost to the track.

It is understood the course does not have an insurance policy in place to cover the loss of its showpiece jumps fixture and a number of staff at the track have been furloughed.