Courses facing bleak winter as Jockey Club reveals big increase in turnover hit

Racecourses across Britain on Wednesday outlined the grim reality and potential dire consequences of no crowds returning for up to another six months, with the Jockey Club revealing its estimated £75 million revenue shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic will now be even greater than first feared.

The Jockey Club, which runs 15 tracks in Britain including Cheltenham and Aintree, had been hoping to begin a three-day crowds pilot at Newmarket on Thursday, working towards the return of spectators to all courses from October 1, but instead has been left to count the cost of more financial damage.

Newbury and York, two of the largest independent tracks, have also been coming to terms with the significant loss of income after tighter restrictions were announced by the government to limit the spread of the virus. York revealed 80 per cent of its revenue was generated by people coming on site.