Since confinement, the horse racing industry has experienced one of the most serious crises in its history.
“The owners must continue to pay the pensions of their horses, without any hope of gain” regrets Jean-Luc Thirouin, the president of the horse racing company of Chartres. “And the coaches have to face fixed and fixed costs, whereas until now all the races have been canceled. “
“It will not compensate for the losses we have suffered”
In this context, Jean-Luc Thirouin fears a large number of bankruptcies in the horse racing industry. “We have to do everything, within our means, to help the professional sector. “
On April 27, the Minister of Budget and the Minister of Agriculture announced several aid measures for the horse industry, expressing their support for a rapid resumption of horse racing.
The green light has just been given by the Prime Minister’s office to resume racing. Wednesday, May 20, they will resume at the Chartres racecourse, but only behind closed doors. “We were impatient,” says Jean-Luc Thirouin. “We are ready, with all the sanitary requirements imposed on us so that they go as smoothly as possible, without making anyone take risks. “
Not all racetracks will be able to reopen. They must meet very strict specifications. “Some of these racetracks are unable to meet standards. “
In the region, only five racetracks will once again be able to host races: those of Rouen-Mauquenchy (Seine-Maritime), Rambouillet (Yvelines), Bernay and Évreux (Eure), as well as that of Chartres.
“This is good news, although we are aware that this resumption of racing will not allow us to compensate for the losses. We will even be doing it for a while, but this recovery is very important to help us support the sector. “
The Chartres racecourse meets all the requirements laid down by the State to reopen. The rules, in terms of spaces, social distancing, sanitary arrangements, will be scrupulously respected.
“The races will take place behind closed doors, with a maximum of one hundred people present on the racetrack,” said the president of the Chartres horse racing company.
Depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 on our territory and the decisions taken by the State, the closed session could be closed in the near future. This is also the wish of Jean-Luc Thirouin and his teams, who would like to see the public once again invade the stands of the racetrack.
However, the president of the racing company is aware that this cannot be done before having the absolute guarantee that the risks of contamination are practically non-existent.
Calendar : The first meeting after deconfinement is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 in semi-nocturnal. This is a premium meeting. The other meetings are scheduled on Monday June 1, Sunday June 7 and Saturday June 20.
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Jacques Joannopoulos
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