What does a second lockdown in England mean for racing?

A second lockdown in England will come into effect from Thursday, which could affect racing in several ways. Here is a guide to the situation as it stands: what we know and what we don't.

How long will the lockdown last?

The lockdown will begin at one second past midnight on Thursday, November 5 and last four weeks until Wednesday, December 2.

Will racing be halted as during the spring, and what about betting shops?

Racing can continue behind closed doors as has been the case since June 1, along with other professional sports. However, all non-essential retail and hospitality will close, which means betting shops in England will be forced to shut like their counterparts in Wales. Health policy is devolved to the nations and betting shops in Scotland and Northern Ireland currently remain open.

How does this affect racing's finances?

There will be a substantial cost to racing, estimated on Sunday by senior industry figures to be in the region of £12.5 million as a result of the closure of betting shops in England for a month, a combination of media rights and levy.

Horses kept at a safe distance by work-riders at Nigel Hawke's Devon yardCredit: David Prichard

Will anything else change?

The BHA are yet to be told whether the current arrangements allowing owners with runners limited access on course will continue during the period of lockdown.

When can we expect crowds to return?

BHA chief executive Nick Rust emphasised on Sunday that, although the new measures were not conducive to having crowds back in the short term, the industry would continue to make the argument to government – along with other sports – for the reintroduction of trials for public attendance from January onwards, as long as the health situation allowed them.

What has been happening in other nations?

Elite sport has continued behind closed doors in Wales, where a 17-day firebreak lockdown was introduced and is due to end on November 9.

Ireland is in the midst of a six-week lockdown which ends on December 1 but, as in Wales, elite sport has remained. Racing has also been allowed to continue in France, despite a nationwide lockdown being re-introduced last Friday. However, the sport has had to move back behind closed doors for the first time since July 11, while owners have once again been excluded.

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