Racing is coming back soon, but prematurely naming a date would be futile

After long weeks of shutdown, we are now closing in on the point when racing resumes in those countries which stopped due to the coronavirus.

This is cause for relief. Those whose businesses have been brought to a standstill by the disease, and forced to live on reserves or make bleak decisions about cutting costs, can look forward to restarting and rebuilding. Those who follow the sport, meanwhile, can relish their passion returned, at a time when distractions and pleasures are more needed than ever.

For those in France, or who closely follow French racing, it is now a matter of days until racing resumes – scheduled for Monday at Longchamp, Toulouse and Compiegne, meetings for which a staggering 1,069 horses were entered this week.