Plans for Monday resumption in Germany hang in the balance

Plans for the return of racing in Germany remain in the balance as the country's racing authority has not yet received clearance from the central government for its first meeting at Dortmund on Monday.

It is hoped the eight-race card, which has attracted 69 declarations, could still go ahead but it will require state approval before Sunday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and first ministers from the country's 16 federal states spoke on Thursday to discuss Germany's handling of the coronavirus beyond May 3 and the easing of lockdown measures.

"The chancellor's meeting with state leaders unfortunately did not produce any new result for us, because the next steps on professional sport will not be discussed until the next meeting on May 6," said Deutscher Galopp president Dr Michael Vesper.

"We still hope to hold the meeting on Monday. The current regulations are valid until May 2. Since there can be no regulation-free time, it is up to the federal states to decide how to proceed."

Deutscher Galopp confirmed that its logistics for racing behind closed doors had been approved and said the Dortmund fixture would be rearranged if it did not receive the necessary state approval.

The authority has also extended its ban on overseas runners from May 22, in time for a meeting at Baden-Baden the following day, to May 31, although it will review the situation on May 15.

Racing was brought to a halt in Germany last month but it has since published a revised six-week programme with races mostly run for 50 per cent prize-money with a minimum pool of €3,000.

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