Gosden confident of safe racing resumption

believes behind closed doors will be safer than going to the supermarket, as he expressed relief at a return date.

The BHA had hoped racing, which has been suspended in the UK since March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic, would return this month, and there were provisional plans put in place.

However, on , as part of ‘Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government's Covid-19 Recovery Strategy', Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed no in Britain would return, not even behind closed doors, until at least June 1.

Although racing's resumption has been put on hold for a few more weeks, Gosden says there is a sense of relief that a date has been put down in black and white and he believes the sport will have no issues complying with the strict safety measures.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on , he said: “There's relief that we know where we're going. Step two said that from June 1 sport can occur behind closed doors from that date onwards and we can be absolutely ready.

“Our have been training throughout the spring, in this lovely weather, and they're fit and ready to run. In , we have 2,500 horses training every day, socially distanced, and the great thing about our sport is that it's non-contact.

“I'll feel very comfortable [at a racecourse] with our staff because I've seen all the factors and restrictions that has been put in. I think going to the racecourse will be a great deal safer than going to the petrol station or the supermarket.”

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