The age-old question currently gnawing at every racing fan – when will the sport we love return?
A resumption in time for June 1 is favoured by Betfair Exchange punters – but only just.
Racing had originally been suspended until the end of April, but with the lockdown now extended it doesn’t appear the sport can return until at least mid to late May.
BHA head honcho Nick Rust hasn’t set out a specific date, but ‘is ready for racing to resume as soon as the government gives the go-ahead’.
With that in mind, the Betfair Exchange has produced a ‘Will racing return on or before June 1?’ – and punters are struggling to side one way or the other.
‘No’ hit favouritism for the first time on Wednesday morning, but ‘Yes’ has since narrowly regained the upper hand and is currently priced at 1.93.
Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: ‘’The fact that ‘No’ was favourite at one point today reflects the constant uncertainty in the market but thankfully optimism has returned and punters now make a return of racing for on or before June 1st a shade of odds-on’.”
Ireland announced yesterday that racing will be behind closed doors until at least September, with the Galway Festival the most high-profile festival likely to suffer.
If Britain follows suit then both the Ebor meeting and Glorious Goodwood could be under threat, while Royal Ascot still has plenty to do for the government to give it the all-clear.
Betfair’s ‘Will Royal Ascot go ahead?’ market has ‘Yes’ at an alarming 3.4, with ‘No’ a strong favourite at 1.41.
The road back to a full resumption with many meetings each day could still be months away, but the sooner staggered meetings return, the better for the industry.
And the markets suggest we won’t have to wait too much longer for that.
