Doncaster's St Leger Festival chosen as crowd pilot event

Racegoers WILL be permitted to attend next month’s Pertemps St Leger Festival at Doncaster as part of the Government’s crowd pilot scheme to return spectators to elite sport, it was announced today.

The St Leger meeting runs from September 9-12.

Spectators will be admitted on each day but details of the exact numbers and ticket information is yet to be announced.

Warwick on September 21 and Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting from September 24-26 have also been chosen as pilot events.

Each track submitted a detailed risk assessment and operating plan to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

Plans for a similar pilot at Glorious Goodwood earlier this month had to be shelved due to the threat of a new spike in Covid-19 cases.

David Armstrong, chief executive of the Racecourse Association, said: “We are pleased to receive confirmation of our pilot events to welcome back crowds to racecourses and once again thank DCMS for entrusting the sport with this responsibility.

“Racecourses have been working for some time to this end and we are confident the events selected will provide strong case studies which will be of use to all.

“The disappointment of postponing our last confirmed pilot at Goodwood was felt across the sport, but the learnings and behind-the-scenes work have been of great value to others. Racing is ready to proceed in a safe manner and we are looking forward to once again welcoming crowds back to the racecourse.”