RACING may have been suspended in Britain from Wednesday19 March and many saw it coming but was it premature, especially given across the Irish sea, racing has continued behind closed doors in the Emerald Isle?

Harold Wilson was attributed with saying “A week’s a long time in politics.”  A week is certainly a long time in the Corona Virus pandemic.  A fortnight seems an interminable age as it was only two weeks ago that the first death in Britain from Cororavirus was recorded.  There have now been sadly 281 deaths among 5,683 recorded cases and there is undoubtedly and unfortunately worse to come.

While the British Government has not yet legislated for draconian powers along the lines of Italy, Spain and France, there is no doubt life has changed immeasurably and unprecedently, never before seen in peacetime Britain.  Schools, restaurants, pubs, clubs, theatres, cinemas, music venues, sporting arenas and gyms have closed overnight.  Learning, eating, drinking, dancing, watching, listening, supporting, participating and exercising have ceased.

Racing’s ruling body said in its defence of suspending racing: “The BHA took the decision to protect essential emergency services and the health and welfare of staff working in the racing industry.”  Surely a stance difficult to argue against, unless you were a prominent racehorse owner and former Chairman of the BHB, precursor to the current BHA, Mr Peter Savill?

“If you cannot find a way to keep a small group of people apart on a racecourse built to hold tens of thousands, you cannot be trying very hard.”  Savill questioned the validity of draining medical staff from NHS duties and also said racing had a “massive opportunity” to provide an entertainment outlet for the population.

Certainly, betting turnover and viewing figures for yesterday’s televised meeting at Thurles were up with the Racing Post headline, “Betting volumes soar as punters and ITV4 viewers devour escapism at Thurles.”

So does the former owner of Celtic Swing have a point… or two?

Well yes, possibly.  Racing is a massive multi-million pound industry and one totally sees where Mr S is coming from.  However, could racing really have carried on behind closed doors while all other sports have stopped?  Racing needs the public on its side, probably more now than ever and it would have been a PR disaster to have stuck two hooves up at the general public, never mind politicians and the general media.  Moreover, it is surely only a matter of time before racing grinds to a halt in Ireland.

All of racing’s stakeholders, government and much of the general public want a resumption of racing in Britain as soon as possible.  We all want all sport to resume.  But when even the IOC is looking at postponing a multi-billion yen sports event, it’s time to sit up and take note.

Watch out for tomorrow’s BJ press conference.  Those “draconian” powers are surely around the corner in which case the BHA v Savill difference of opinion becomes somewhat academic.