Waiting game: Chester's return hinges on restrictions being eased

The return of racing at Chester is set to be delayed further as track officials wait for coronavirus restrictions to be eased.

Chester has been allocated five meetings from next month, starting on August 9, but some of those are likely to be switched elsewhere.

Although York and Epsom, tracks similarly situated on public land, have been able to put in protocols to allow racing to take place safely, Chester's location in the heart of the city presents its own challenges.

"With the city walls and open course being public land, it's very difficult to control social distancing and it's unlikely we're going to be able to race until restrictions are relaxed," said the track's chief executive Richard Thomas.

"We've been in dialogue with local authorities and the best we can possibly hope for is to get back racing by the end of August. Hopefully, we get our normal fixtures back for September and we're able to welcome back crowds."

Racegoers make their way to the Chester along the city wallsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Goodwood is potentially in line to host around 5,000 people on one of the five days of its Glorious meeting the week after next, and the move has been welcomed by Thomas.

"We've got to get to that next step now and we need to be trying the big courses with 10,000 people to see if we can do it properly," he said.

"We've been working hard with the DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport], York and Goodwood to try to get some trials on, possibly at those courses at the end of July."

Thomas will this week celebrate 20 years at the helm of Chester Race Company, which also has Bangor and Musselburgh in its portfolio, but the bleak financial landscape offers little cheer.

Richard Thomas: chief executive of Chester Race CompanyCredit: Chester racecourse

"We have a catering company, betting company and hotel, so our wage bill is huge and we're carrying a lot of overheads," he said.

"We'll be fine and we'll get through it but there is a nervousness about next year and having the certainty we're going to race. A lot of racecourses will get through this, but if it happens again I can't see how some of them will survive."

Chester has been working on a £100 million redevelopment project, but those plans will be put on hold.

"I'm sure our redevelopment plans will be delayed," added Thomas. "We've got to build our cash reserves back up and we'll need a couple of successful seasons before that happens."

Read more if you were interested in this:

York follows Epsom lead in fencing off racecourse to keep public away

Needing the 5,000: Goodwood hopes to have members at one day of Glorious meeting

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