Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Meeting goes behind closed doors

Following guidance that the government's programme of spectator pilots has been postponed, the Cambridgeshire Meeting will take place at the Rowley Mile on September 24-26 as a behind closed doors fixture.

This will be limited to participants, racehorse owners and essential raceday personnel observing the existing strict health and safety protocols that have been in place across British Racing since the sport resumed without spectators on June 1.

Amy Starkey, who runs Newmarket Racecourses as east regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We respect the government’s decision to postpone its programme of spectator pilots across sport as part of trying to reduce interaction between people.

"Sadly, this means the Cambridgeshire Meeting will take place without the limited number of spectators who the team worked so hard to prepare to welcome in a safe way. We will now continue to work with the rest of the industry, government and our local authority on when it might be possible for spectators to return in the future.

“Unfortunately it now looks like we will not have any visitors to a raceday for the duration of our 2020 Flat season at the Home of Horseracing. I’m proud of the role Newmarket Racecourses has played in ensuring that racing has been able to continue behind closed doors, as we will be doing again this week.

"The racing this week will be of the highest quality and I hope that everybody at home enjoys the spectacle on ITV Racing and Racing TV.”