How early might French racing resume and what will become of its major prizes?
Scott Burton looks at potential scenarios for the big races in the calendar
Racing was suspended by France Galop and its trotting counterparts on March 17 for a minimum of a month, but the entire industry has in reality been working towards a hoped-for resumption at the beginning of May.
Whether those hopes can be realised may be determined to a large extent by what French president Emmanuel Macron announces to the nation on Thursday evening, with a further two-week extension to the lockdown until the end of April within the realms of possibilities.
France Galop has been working on a new calendar that could commence in early May and its guiding principles will have been two-fold: to keep the biggest races in their proper homes if at all possible, while pushing their dates back in order to be able to run a fair selection of trial and prep races.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInternational
Last updated
Copy- Skyscraper betting and soaring turnover: Japan's mind-boggling racing experience and the unlikely hero who sparked the boom
- Oisin Murphy a man in demand as revitalised Summer Cup card gives South African racing a platform to build on
- Ben Cecil, Grade 1-winning trainer and nephew of Sir Henry, dies aged 56
- Oisin Murphy: 'Billy Loughnane is the most talented rider I have ever seen at his age'
- Turffontein Summer Cup: Oisin Murphy up against Michael Roberts-trained ace See It Again on first ride in South Africa
- Skyscraper betting and soaring turnover: Japan's mind-boggling racing experience and the unlikely hero who sparked the boom
- Oisin Murphy a man in demand as revitalised Summer Cup card gives South African racing a platform to build on
- Ben Cecil, Grade 1-winning trainer and nephew of Sir Henry, dies aged 56
- Oisin Murphy: 'Billy Loughnane is the most talented rider I have ever seen at his age'
- Turffontein Summer Cup: Oisin Murphy up against Michael Roberts-trained ace See It Again on first ride in South Africa