Scottish racecourses handed lifeline with £2 million government support package

Scottish Racing on Thursday announced it will receive £2 million from the Scottish government as part of a £55m emergency funding package to tackle lost ticket revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding is intended to support sporting venues, such as racecourses, that have suffered financially from the absence of spectators, who have been barred from live sporting events since March 2020.

The first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon announced that £55m worth of grants and low-interest loans would be made available to sporting bodies, with £20m allocated to football.

"As Scottish racecourses continue to race behind closed doors, this financial support is not only very welcome, but absolutely vital for everyone in our sport," said Scottish Racing manager Delly Innes.

"We’re delighted the Scottish government has recognised the sport's importance and the potentially devastating financial implications the pandemic has had on the industry north of the border.

"As a group, we're all grateful to the government ministers and officials for supporting racing in Scotland and we'll continue to work closely with them to return crowds to tracks as soon as possible."

First minister Nicola Sturgeon: announced a £55m funding package for sportCredit: Stu Forster (Getty Images)

With the support of the BHA, Scottish Racing has regularly briefed the government on the financial challenges facing the country's five courses and the industry as a whole.

Scottish Racing has calculated that, by next spring, the racecourses will have collectively lost £12.23m, 55 per cent of their income in the absence of ticket sales, which has had a knock-on effect with diminished returns for the sport's participants.

"I'm pleased to announce this substantial funding package, which will help to ensure those sports worst affected by the loss of ticket revenue during the pandemic are able to bridge the gap until spectators can return to sports events in larger numbers," said Joe FitzPatrick, minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing.

"While restrictions on supporters at events have been vital in stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives, there can be no doubt they have created real hardships for many sports clubs. These clubs are at the heart of our communities and, without urgent financial support, the survival of some could be in question."

Rugby Union has been allocated £10m as part of the package, with ice rinks receiving £1m and a further £1m will be divided between other sports, including basketball motorsports and netball.

Up to 300 spectators are permitted to attend sporting events in Scotland that fall within a level one area under its tiered system.

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