Crowds in full voice, bets and fancy outfits are some of the few certainties on a racecourse. But come 1pm on Monday, June 1, the stands at Newcastle will be empty, as horse racing becomes the first major UK sport to resume since the coronavirus lockdown.
A raft of safety measures are in place, with 69 guidelines and procedures for its participants to follow. Covid-19 temperature testing, a one-way system and face masks will be complied with ahead of the ten races. "It has been a long road getting everything into place," said David Williams, executive director at Newcastle. "We've been making sure the right processes and protocols are in place to make this a safe and successful day." Attendees are strictly limited, with owners and