Spectators are set to return to Perth Racecourse next weekend for the first time in 21 months.
The venue is set to begin a phased, safe and controlled return of racegoers, starting on June 6 when the bet365 Perth Gold Cup takes place.
It follows discussions between racecourse bosses and the Perth Safety Advisory Group (SAG), as well as weeks of “intensive planning”.
The first phase will see an agreed capacity of annual members able to attend Gold Cup Day.
Under level two COVID restrictions, which Perth and Kinross is currently under, crowds of up to 500 are permitted.
If all goes well, the second phase will enable a small number of racegoers to return in a new Park and Picnic Bubble area for BRAW Raceday on Saturday, June 19.
There will be no public sale of tickets – or “walk-ups” – available at this stage with car tickets being offered next week, in the first instance, to those who held tickets for cancelled racedays in 2020 and who since transferred to a voucher rather than taking the option of a refund.
It is hoped the events will lead to more people returning to the racecourse later in the year.
Perth Racecourse CEO Hazel Peplinski said: “The return of spectators to Perth has been a long time in the planning and I am delighted that we have now reached a position when we can safely welcome back a limited number.
“We have really missed them. Seeing our enclosures with racegoers enjoying our sport live shall give us back our sense of purpose.
“We have liaised with our Safety Advisory Group since the beginning of the pandemic and its advice and support has been invaluable throughout. “It has been a long, even dark road at times but to hear the excitement of our annual members anticipating being permitted racing again has been a morale booster for the whole team.
“Perth’s business model is based on its strong attendances so to be able to share our sport once more in a safe environment shall put us firmly back on the road to recovery.
"Gradually we shall build confidence in June and aim for a strong second half to our season. Our product is still very good; now we have the start of our live audiences returning to complete the picture.”
See https://www.perth-races.co.uk/ for more information.
