The coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of the $35million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan next Saturday.
Dubai Racing Club bosses were adamant that the glittering nine-race programme would take place behind closed doors – despite the UAE government’s move on Thursday to suspend all sporting events in a bid to combat the spread of COVID-19.
But a statement from the government of Dubai’s media office yesterday read: “To safeguard the health of all participants, the higher organising committee of the Dubai World Cup 2020 has decided to postpone the 25th edition of the global tournament to next year.”
Dubai Racing Club executive director Frank Gabriel also added: “We want to do what is best by everyone and it’s a decision we have to honour and work with.”
The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Racing and Bloodstock Industries has backed the British Horseracing Authority’s ruling to halt the domestic programme until the end of April.
The BHA has been urged to reconsider its ruling and follow Horse Racing Ireland’s blueprint of one afternoon fixture – behind closed doors – per day.
But a letter to the BHA from the All Party Parliamentary Group’s co-chairs – Labour MP for St Helens North Conor McGinn and Laurence Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury – said: “It was the only reasonable course of action to take for the public good, in the national interest and to preserve the longer-term reputation and positive image of our sport.”
Horse racing has been thrown into turmoil by the virus, with the showpiece Grand National cancelled, while Cheltenham Festival was criticised for allowing the action to continue for four days despite warnings from the government about the necessity of social distancing.
The majority of racing is still going ahead in Ireland, however, albeit behind closed doors.
