'Racing will not be beaten': BHA chief issues rallying cry to beleaguered sport

Nick Rust moved to rally British racing on Thursday by declaring the sport “will not be beaten” by the coronavirus pandemic which has shut down the industry.

The BHA published an outline of the steps being taken to provide financial assistance to those facing difficulties as a result of the stoppage of racing until the end of April, and the processes being put in place to enable the action to resume in the best possible shape.

These are being pulled together in an industry plan involving representatives from across the sport, and come on the same day as UK prime minister Boris Johnson said he believed the country could “turn the tide” on Covid-19 impacting lives “within the next 12 weeks”.

British racing’s industry plan for coronavirus has been split into four categories covering finance, people, medical and equine, with the strategy expected to be completed and agreed on Friday.

Rust, the BHA chief executive and chair of 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.

Nick Rust: 'there is a determination that racing will not be beaten by this shutdown'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“The industry group is meeting again tomorrow morning to finalise an initial plan. As well as the immediate response to the shutdown, it is coordinating teams and resources to focus on the problems and issues the industry needs to address and resolve. It is already developing a resumption plan to enable racing to get up and running when that becomes possible.”

The BHA stated financial plans are focusing on the needs of participants during the shutdown with “all avenues of potential assistance being explored” before a submission is made to government for aid and help.

Methods of helping people and providing medical advice and guidance are also being drawn together, while representatives of the National Trainers Federation, Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Racehorse Owners Association are demonstrating how the cancellation is affecting racing’s professionals and owners.

There is also work being done by the BHA to protect the welfare of horses throughout the crisis.

The sport’s governing body also revealed “effort is already directed at making sure racing is ready to return at the earliest possible opportunity”.

This includes discussions and planning around allowing normal raceday functions, such as stewarding and veterinary matters, to take place and assessing what is needed for racing’s fixture list when the sport returns.

The plan is part of racing’s reaction to the ‘self-help’ approach encouraged by the government at this stage of the pandemic, an outlook that is set to lean heavily on the likes of the Levy Board and Racing Foundation for funding.

The Racing Foundation, set up eight years ago to support charitable racing causes with an endowment from the net proceeds of the government's sale of the Tote, is standing by to help out the industry financially in this crisis.

Chief executive Rob Hezel said: "We are well placed to support the industry in the short term. We are working with senior racing executives to work out how best to use our resources to support the developing plan.

"We have started a survey to find out the situation with all racing charities, looking to provide them with support so they are there when this is over – people and horses are quite reliant on the support of these charities.”

There have been 137 deaths from Covid-19 in the United Kingdom after a further 29 people on Thursday were reported to have died.

Social distancing and self-isolation measures are in place in an attempt to slow the spread of the illness, and Boris Johnson struck an optimistic tone about the lasting impact on day-to-day lives.

He said: “I’m conscious as the days go by that people will want to know how long we are expecting them to keep it up and I do think looking at it all we can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks and are confident we can send coronavirus packing in this country.”

Read more

The BHA answers queries about financial aid, horse welfare and resuming racing

Nick Rust: why we took the decision to shut down British racing

Nick Alexander: we could have continued behind closed doors

French authority still targeting April 16 date for resumption of racing

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