French racetracks must remain closed for now if they are located in hot zones for the Covid-19 infection. According to SBC News, the government had agreed to let racetracks resume operations, but did an about-face due to unacceptable virus rates in certain areas.
The government recently classified different areas of the country into red and green zones, red for areas heavily affected by the coronavirus.
As a result, France Galop is currently looking at rescheduling meetings at alternate venues, possibly moving events from Longchamp to Deauville in the northwest of France in accordance with the announcement.
The racing body plans to issue a revised racing program soon, and suggested that races could soon return to their original locations once afflicted areas are reassigned from red to green.
A statement from the authority said: “After obtaining permission to resume racing on Monday, May 11, the parent companies learned during the day that a government decree specifying the terms and conditions for the opening of the racecourses would be published in the next few days.
“This decree should specify that horseracing is indeed carried out in the departments located in the green zones but not in those located in the red zones. The regions in red are Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. France Galop hopes to run races at alternate venues. Affected tracks include ParisLongchamp, Auteuil and Saint-Cloud.
“While the resumption of racing is reinforced by this decree to be published, the parent companies and the Fédération Nationale des Courses Hippiques deeply regret that the racecourses located in the red zones cannot operate as they have done since May 11.
“The reinforced closed-door protocol and all sanitary measures have also been scrupulously respected since the resumption of racing on May 11. Regular controls have been carried out and have not revealed any problems.
“However, the parent companies take note of this decision, which regulates the conditions for the resumption of horseracing, and will apply the new directives from Thursday.
“Some prefectures, such as Paris, have already anticipated the publication of the decree by notifying France Galop and LeTrot this morning of the decision to prohibit the opening of their racecourses.
“The teams are working on plans to rearrange the May and June calendar and will announce as soon as possible where the races that were scheduled in the red zones will be held. This calendar will be subject to changes as soon as a red department turns green.”
