FRENCH racing officials remain hopeful of a behind closed doors resumption date of May 11.
The news follows a ‘positive and constructive’ meeting that took place on Tuesday between France Galop and the French Government.
The sport has been suspended since March 17 but there is a growing feeling that the racing industry may get the thumbs up for a resumption next month with the virus’s impact steadily decreasing within the country.
France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild consulted with members of the government, with the parties giving themselves 48 hours to come up with an agreement on how racing will deal with the impact of the pandemic.
And a France Galop statement said: “This morning, Edouard de Rothschild, Jean Pierre Barjon, Bertrand Meheut and Cyril Linette had a meeting with Gerald Darmanin, the Minister of Public Action and Accounts and Didier Guillaume, the Minster of Agriculture.
“Eric Woerth, deputy of the Oise region and chairman of the Finance Committee in the National Assembly, as well as Philippe Augier, the mayor of Deauville, were also present.
“It was a positive and constructive meeting. Representatives of the public authorities and of the industry have given themselves 48 hours to lay down the terms of an agreement, which will allow the horse racing industry to deal with and overcome the impact of the current health crisis.”
De Rothschild also tweeted after the meeting that hopes of a resumption next month were still alive.
He said: “After meeting Ministers Darmanin and Guillaume I am not pessimistic about the resumption of the closed-door races on May 11. To be continued.”
