Horse racing crowds poised to return at St Leger Festival next month as three pilot events confirmed

British horse racing will officially welcome fans back from next month, with three pilot events involving crowds confirmed for September.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the three-day 2020 St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse - due to take place between September 9-12 - will become the first racing event involving spectators being allowed to attend since the coronavirus outbreak forced elite UK sport to be suspended and then move behind closed doors earlier this year.

That will be followed by a meeting at Warwick Racecourse on September 21 and the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse between September 24-26, with all three events testing "stage 5 of the Government’s return to elite sport plan as well as stringent operating protocols prescribed by the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA)".

In a statement, the Racecourse Association (RCA) said that each racecourse had been required to submit a detailed risk assessment, while they will also provide a case study for other racecourses to follow moving forward.

Some 5,000 fans were originally due to attend the Goodwood Festival in July before the Government cancelled a series of crowd trials due to concerns regarding the coronavirus infection rate.

It remains to be seen exactly how many racegoers will be permitted to attend the latest pilot events.

“We are pleased to receive confirmation of our pilot events to welcome back crowds to racecourses and once again thank DCMS for entrusting the sport with this responsibility," said RCA chief executive David Armstrong.

“Racecourses have been working for some time to this end and we are confident the events selected will provide strong case studies which will be of use to all.

“The disappointment of postponing our last confirmed pilot at Goodwood was felt across the sport, but the learnings and behind-the-scenes work have been of great value to others. Racing is ready to proceed in a safe manner and we are looking forward to once again welcoming crowds back to the racecourse.”