FRANCE-Galop chief Olivier Delloye hailed the successful return of a big racing crowd at Deauville over the weekend.
And just 24 hours after 3,000 watched Pinatubo win the Prix Jean Prat, Goodwood confirmed they are hoping to have racegoers on course later this month.
The decision to allow punters on course across the Channel was a late one, as the French racing authorities did not receive clearance until Saturday morning.
France-Galop were thrown an eleventh-hour curveball, with the government stating that everyone on course must wear a mask.
But that did not put racing fans off, and seeing a good crowd enjoying top-class racing on Sunday afternoon was a welcome sight.
Delloye told Sun Racing: “I was on course at Deauville and it all went pretty well.
“We had 3,000 people on course so it was a very nice afternoon, it was very pleasing and a good atmosphere. We have worked hard and it was a big step on our path forward.
“We had no publicity that racing was going to be open to the public, and we were unsure until the very last minute that we were going to be allowed to reopen.
“We got confirmation on Saturday morning so it was a very satisfactory moment – but we were also told at the last minute that everyone on course would have to wear a mask throughout the afternoon.
“We were caught by surprise on that one, we had hoped we could restrict it to the staff and the jockeys wearing them.
“But people were very respectful of this, everyone came to the racecourse equipped and you noticed throughout the afternoon that people were playing the game.”
Delloye has been involved in intense discussions with Government over the resumption of racing for months, and it was announced in June that crowds of up to 5,000 could attend sporting fixtures.
He said that, while the racing should not rest on its laurels and must act responsibly going forward, France Galop are optimistic the sport will not be restricted by the 5,000 cap for too long.
He continued: “The way that things are being written in the Government decree in France is still a matter of concern for us, because the limit on the number of people and the way it has been written and designed puts race tracks in the same category as stadiums.
“But you don’t spend an afternoon at the racing like you spend an evening in a stadium watching a football match.
“So we are going to work to change the wording of the decree to make it more viable for us. We have been pretty fortunate that the government have been listening, they have been reassured with how we coped with racing behind closed doors before and after the confinement.
“It is not always easy to make ourselves heard, but we have made our case very clear and that is what we will continue to do.
“Since the very beginning we have tried to keep a close relationship with the decision makers in government and show them that we aren’t playing with peoples lives and their health.
“It is quite fascinating, you walk down the street and people aren’t wearing masks, you go to the beach or the shops and people are not wearing masks, but if you go to a racecourse you have to wear a mask.
“But the best thing we can do is to set a good example and show that racing is not the cause of any problems.”
The Racecourse Association (RCA) are following the lead of the French and are involved in ongoing discussions with Government over the possibility of having racegoers on course at Glorious Goodwood.
But the initial steps are likely to be tentative ones, as any ‘test’ crowd on course at the Qatar-sponsored festival are likely to be restricted to just one of the five days.
A pool of racegoers will be chosen, most likely via a ballot, from the members of the Goodwood Horseracing Club. The finer details, including whether or not on-course bookmakers would be represented, are yet to be ironed out.
Jon Barnett, general manager at Goodwood racecourse, said: “We are continuing to work closely with the RCA and Government to explore options of having a socially distanced test crowd to Glorious Goodwood, the Qatar Goodwood Festival on one of the five days.
“If we are lucky enough to achieve this, then members of the Goodwood Horseracing Club will be given preference. No decision can be taken on bookmakers representation until it’s clear that we are racing with a crowd.”
SEE ALL FREE BETS HERE
