South Africa's racing industry awaits government clearance for Friday resumption

A decision on whether racing can return in South Africa from Friday remains in the balance as the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) awaits a government response to its resumption plan.

The NHA is expecting to receive a verdict in the next 48 hours after its submission was escalated to government ministers and the National Coronavirus Command Council on Sunday evening.

Its application was sent on April 22 to a number of leading officials, including president Cyril Ramaphosa, who on Thursday announced his intention to ease lockdown restrictions from May 1.

The NHA outlined its justifications for a resumption, arguing racing poses a negligible threat to public health, has the ability to preserve jobs in vulnerable sections of society, can help to restart the economy and would mitigate against the threat of an animal welfare crisis.

'Fate lies in hands of the government'

"We understand the anxiousness, uncertainty and fluid nature of the circumstances," said NHA chief executive Vee Moodley. "The outcome will be disseminated as soon as we receive it. For now, our fate lies in the hands of the government."

In anticipation of this verdict, officials will carry out pre-race administrative work for race meetings set to take place on the first three days and are drafting guidelines on racing behind closed doors.

The Group 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, the South African Derby and Oaks are scheduled to be run this Saturday at Turffontein.

There has been no racing in South Africa since March 27 and the racing authority has pushed back the racing programme by a month, meaning two of its big races, the Vodacom Durban July and Gold Cup meeting, are set to take place on July 25 and at the end of August.

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