The sound of horses racing towards the finishing line has died down in the country.
Measurements by the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) are assessing the situation.
The results, as in all other sporting codes, are devastating. No racing, no income.
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According to the task team of Phumelela, Gold Circle, Kenilworth Racing, Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust and National Horseracing Authority (NHA), all measures have been introduced to ensure training centres can continue to operate nationally, addressing the welfare of horses as well as ensuring that horses will be fit and ready to go when racing does resume.
This has involved a massive effort on the part of all stakeholders who have pulled together to ensure that this is happening successfully.
It is common cause that the lockdown measures, which have seen sport and horse racing suspended globally, have had an unprecedented and devastating impact on racing’s business, with revenue reduced to virtually zero.
This has been exacerbated in the main by the temporary cessation of racing and the loss of the international revenue stream flowing therefrom, as well as the ability to bet on football pools.
A decision about when racing will resume locally after the lockdown is lifted will be dependent on government regulations as well as the timing of the recommencement of revenue flow to the racing operators.
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Given these extreme circumstances, it is likely that when racing does resume a significant reduction in stakes levels will be necessary until normality is restored to the business, which may not be instantaneous.
To this end the excitement rounded the track and the sound of horses racing have taken a silent bow and will only relive when the authority has spoken and the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its course.
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