The British Horse Racing Authority have unveiled protocols for the return of racing on June 1, including jockeys wearing masks.
A 33-page document, developed in consultation with Public Health England officials, has been released which sets out the guidelines for horse racing to resume in Britain next month, as the BHA wait to be given the green light by the government.
Should racing resume for the first time since March following its stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic, then Newcastle is pencilled in to stage the first meeting with the north-east track the first to implement the new safety measures.
Social distancing measures will be strictly enforced with those likely to need to breach the two-metre rule set to wear masks, including jockeys, trainers and stable staff.
Masks have been worn by jockeys since racing returned in France and Germany earlier this month and the BHA are set to follow in their footsteps with many of their protocols.
All participants will need to complete an online education module and be screened before they are allowed to attend a behind-closed-doors meeting, with further health and temperature checks employed at the courses.
“The key principle is to act in line with government policy,” the BHA said.
“To protect those working and competing at race meetings, and to reassure the wider community that the risks of spreading coronavirus have been kept to a minimum”.
