The governing body that oversees French racing has been forced into reorganising the whole racing calendar that was originally planned due to the government changing their stance on allowing racing to take place in areas heavily affected by the on going situation.
The French government has now put certain areas of the country into coloured zones with Paris in a red area, leaving the likes of ParisLongchamp, Auteuil, Chantilly and Saint-Cloud will no longer be permitted to race.
France Gallop are now looking at alternative courses to stage the major events of the season with the south and west of the country looking the most likely spots on offer.
(Credit At The Races) A statement from the authority said: “After obtaining permission to resume racing on Monday, May 11, the parent companies learned during the day that a government decree specifying the terms and conditions for the opening of the racecourses would be published in the next few days.
“This decree should specify that horseracing is indeed carried out in the departments located in the green zones but not in those located in the red zones. The regions in red are Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Easy as that! @MickaelleMichel and Athena Star bolt up at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/bZsN9JjXgC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 18, 2020
“While the resumption of racing is reinforced by this decree to be published, the parent companies and the Fédération Nationale des Courses Hippiques deeply regret that the racecourses located in the red zones cannot operate as they have done since May 11.
“The reinforced closed-door protocol and all sanitary measures have also been scrupulously respected since the resumption of racing on May 11. Regular controls have been carried out and have not revealed any problems.
“However, the parent companies take note of this decision, which regulates the conditions for the resumption of horseracing, and will apply the new directives from Thursday.
“Some prefectures, such as Paris, have already anticipated the publication of the decree by notifying France Galop and LeTrot this morning of the decision to prohibit the opening of their racecourses.
“The teams are working on plans to rearrange the May and June calendar and will announce as soon as possible where the races that were scheduled in the red zones will be held. This calendar will be subject to changes as soon as a red department turns green.”
The CEO of France Galop, is hopeful no meetings will be lost as a result of the decision with the French Guineas meeting on June 1st moving to Deauville and other arrangements taking place throughout the week.