Horse racing is set to return in France at ParisLongchamp on Monday after permission was granted by French authorities for the sport to come back behind closed doors.
As is the case in Britain, racing has been suspended in France since March 17. Last week, the French government announced a ban on large sporting events until September – curtailing the Ligue 1 football season – but racing was not affected as it falls under the remit of the agricultural ministry.
Edouard de Rothschild, president of the sport’s national governing body France Gallop said: “We obtained and received from the prefecture of police in Paris authorisation to resume racing on May 11. That is great news, a real victory.”
Under the body’s plans, a range of restrictions will be in place similar to those which allowed racing to briefly continue behind closed doors in Ireland at the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Strict limits will be placed on the number of personnel allowed on track, while foreign runners will be banned until at least the end of May.
Longchamp is among the country’s most famous racecourse’s, renowned for hosting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious flat race.
Monday’s meeting features four Group races, including key trials for the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas, which have been rearranged for June 1.
