Social distancing at ParisLongchamp last week© Photo Healy Racing
Following eight successful days of racing across France the ruling body for the sport has learned that the Government will shortly decree that racing can no longer take place in the 'red zone' of the country where the Coronavirus is more prevalent.
The 'red zone' is mainly around the Paris area of France but includes a number of high profile racecourses such as ParisLongchamp, Auteuil, Saint Cloud, Chantilly and Fontainebleau.
France Galop has issued a statement this evening to say that their staff are working on plans to rearrange the racing calendar for May and June and it is their intention to relocate all fixtures that were due to take place within the 'red zone.'
A revised set of fixtures will be published in the coming days.
Olivier Delloye, CEO of France Galop issued the following positive tweet:
I hoped our contingency plans would not be necessary but they will for the forthcoming weeks. B-plan to be released soon. No fixture will be lost : racing goes on but we need to adapt to fast changing (and hard to read) rules. https://t.co/dCOXdFWGLc— Olivier Delloye (@OlivierDelloye) May 19, 2020
I hoped our contingency plans would not be necessary but they will for the forthcoming weeks. B-plan to be released soon. No fixture will be lost : racing goes on but we need to adapt to fast changing (and hard to read) rules. https://t.co/dCOXdFWGLc