Royal Ascot 'crucial' to racing industry even behind closed doors says Varian

Moves by Ascot to give this year's royal meeting the best chance of taking place were praised by top trainer Roger Varian on Wednesday, with the five-day fixture staging races that are "crucial" to the wider racing industry.

Ascot revealed on Tuesday its flagship meeting would take place behind closed doors this year if clearance was given for the meeting to go ahead by the UK government and the BHA, a decision that followed the postponement of the opening four Classics of the season by Jockey Club racecourses due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Running Royal Ascot without spectators is set to have a significant impact on the course's revenues and finances with the meeting a considerable earner for the track, which last year broadcast the action to 175 territories and to an estimated 650 million people, partly through its partnership with US broadcaster NBC, as well as ITV and Sky Sports in Britain.

An NBC spokesman said: “We fully support Royal Ascot, and look forward to presenting an exciting week of races to horse racing fans in the US."

However, while prize-money will be impacted should this year's fixture go ahead, it is understood the desire to stage the action is being driven by wanting to offer suitable and important opportunities to horses and the racing industry rather than seeking to recoup any losses through the likes of media rights payments.

Daahyeh (David Egan, red) leads the field in the Albany up the centreCredit: Edward Whitaker

Varian, who has trained three Royal Ascot winners, including last year's Albany Stakes scorer, Daahyeh, outlined the importance of the meeting, and said: "Everyone appreciates Ascot is going to be much better with the public there and operating in the way it normally does, but this is a unique situation and taking it behind closed doors rather than not at all is something everyone in the racing industry is going to support.

"What Royal Ascot does is offer races that are crucial to the industry and you can see there's a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes by people thinking about things like this and trying to make it work for everyone."

Varian had been preparing Daahyeh for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 3, and believes the announcements to push back the Classics give hope for the races taking place, albeit under different circumstances.

He said: "The fact it was said in the announcement that the Guineas and the Derby were being postponed rather than cancelled is encouraging in my view.

"I think you'd have been an optimist to think the Guineas would've taken place in their original slot, but as long as we're given some notice of when racing might restart then horses shouldn't take too long to ready.

"We've already seen in France they've reshaped the programme with a view to the Classics, so that's something that can be done even if it means it's potentially a slightly different test."

Read more:

Dow believes Derby should be staged this season even if venue and date change

Guineas and Derby meetings to be held later in the season, Jockey Club announces

Royal Ascot to take place behind closed doors if given green light

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