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John Gosden backs racing resumption plans as he claims racing will be safer than going to the supermarket

JOHN Gosden is the latest big name to throw his weight behind the return of racing.

The Newmarket trainer even claimed a behind closed doors fixture would be safer than a trip to your local supermarket or a filling up with petrol.

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Credit: PA:Press Association

A day after resumption plans were scuppered by the government's announcement that no sport would take place until at least June 1, Gosden appeared on Radio 4 to back racing's return.

He said: "Step two said June 1, that sports can occur behind closed doors from that date onwards, and we can be absolutely ready. Our horses have been training throughout the spring in this lovely weather, they're fit and ready to run.

"In Newmarket we have had 2,500 horses training every day, socially distanced, and the great thing about our sport is it's non contact."

An update from the Resumption of Racing Group last week said it had "demonstrated to Government the work being done to ensure a safe and responsible return to racing. This includes minimising risk to participants through detailed planning around strict social distancing and infection control measures."

On the subject of how comfortable he would feel with his staff going racing, the champion trainer, whose string includes the brilliant Enable, said: "Very comfortable, because I've seen all the factors being put in and every restriction and I'd be very comfortable - I think it will be a great deal safer than going to the petrol station or the supermarket.

"There will be no crowds and who knows when that will occur, this is a disease that might rumble on.

"It's not an easy one and we might be in this situation for months, we don't know, but as long as we can race and do our bit for the economy - British racing and breeding does contribute £4billion to the economy every year, so it is a matter of doing it and doing it safely within the biosecurity guidelines."

Gosden also thinks Royal Ascot could still be held in its scheduled slot of June 16 despite the latest blow.

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He added: "It could be a fascinating Royal Ascot.

"If they run the Guineas at the end of the first week here in Newmarket, you could then come back with the big races at Royal Ascot, the St James's Palace, and you could probably get a prep race in before the Ascot Gold Cup. I think it could be fascinating.

"Remember, they have been racing in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Florida throughout this pandemic under strict conditions behind closed doors, as we will."

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