Fans will be able to attend this year's St Leger festival after sport bosses agreed to comply with 10 Covid-19 measures

The annual event, which is usually attended by thousands of horse racing fans, will be restricted to 16,000 over the four days.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said the risk was ‘too great’ in hosting the event with fans despite Labour colleague and borough MP Rosie Winterton saying she actively ‘lobbied’ for spectators to attend as part of a Government trial.

The council, set out by director of public health Dr Rupert Suckling, set out 10 Covid-19 tests organisers had to abide by in order for fans to attend.

These included no surge in cases before the event, the wearing of face masks, adequate transport and the enhanced use of the Test and Trace on site and the use of the NHS app.

The council also wanted no people to attend from areas already in a local lockdown.

Dr Suckling said on Tuesday that organisers had met these tests and fans can attend.

He said that the current infection rate is around 2.6 per 100,000, well below many neighbouring areas.

“I appreciate this decision is one that will divide people in Doncaster and maybe further afield given the strength of feeling on both sides of this debate,” Dr Suckling said.

“However from a Public Health perspective, I insisted on stringent tests being met before I could be assured and confident that the event should proceed with spectators.

“I am now assured and satisfied that the racecourse, which has been positively working with us and other partners in the borough, has put the required measures in place to ensure the festival can be as safe as it can be.

“I will be monitoring the situation on a daily basis and will take any necessary action.”

The overall number of general admissions and hospitality guests has fallen from the initial maximum of 26,000 planned for over the four days to 16,000. The spectators will have allocated tables within bubbles in specific zones.

There will be enhanced testing on site as well as temperature checking racegoers.

The racecourse will capture the details of all attendees and will share the data with DMBC on request if needed. Although a request to use the NHSApp at the event was made, this was not granted.

There will be a daily meeting between the council and the racecourse to review and amend any operational elements. If any of these 10 tests subsequently fail to be met, this will also trigger a review.

Mayor Ros Jones added: “The St Leger Festival is set to proceed with spectators. My personal opinion remains that the festival is a major risk for the borough that I would rather not see happen but, there are no current grounds that can be escalated for it to be held behind closed doors.

“This event, I reiterate, has been imposed upon the borough by Government as part of a national pilot for spectators to return to sporting events.

"I fully recognise the need to get back to some sort of normality and appreciate the economic benefits that the St Leger Festival brings to Doncaster but I believe the risk is too great as we see rising infection rates nationally.

"I urge everyone attending the St Leger Festival to follow the guidance, ensure social distancing and to keep themselves and others safe. I would also ask people to behave responsibly in and outside of the racecourse and help the festival pass successfully for the borough."