Pontefract Racecourse prepares to welcome crowds back

The racecourse has been planed for three scenarios:

-Racing behind closed doors with essential workers only

-Racing with limited crowds

-And racing with increased crowd capacity

Chief operating officer Richard Hammill said: " At the moment we know that we will be racing behind closed doors for our three race meetings in April but we’re very much looking forward to receiving a limited number of spectators once Stage 3 of the Government roadmap comes into force, hopefully after May 17.

"Under the regulations set out by the British Horseracing Authority, Racecourses have to keep a ‘Green Zone’ for essential workers which keeps spectators at least 2m away from essential staff (officials, trainers, stable staff etc).

"In order to comply with this, parts of the racecourse will not be available to spectators.

"In line with SG02 guidelines, we have calculated our available capacity in the areas that will be open to spectators.

"The number of spectators that we will be able to admit is considerably lower than our normal raceday safety factors and we will be starting to sell a small number of tickets for race meetings on Friday evening, May 28, Monday evening, June 7 and Sunday, June 20.

"We are expecting to sell out the small number of tickets that we have for these three racedays relatively quickly but will release additional tickets in the run up to each race meeting when we know exactly what else we have available to sell.

"It’ll be great to have spectators back – we cannot wait to see racegoers back on course. It won’t quite be a normal raceday but it’s definitely a step in the right direction."

Race meetings will take place Monday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 28 and Pontefract Park will be closed on each of those days from 7am until 7pm.