Johnston unsure of full implications of coronavirus shutdown

PA Sport Reporters
March 17, 2020 2:30 pm

Trainer says it’s “unthinkable” to imagine a cancelled Flat season.

Mark Johnston admits only time will tell what the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be for the racing industry, following the cancellation of all British meetings until the end of April.

While last week’s Cheltenham Festival went ahead unaffected, the situation has escalated hugely in the last seven days – with racing taking place behind closed doors on Tuesday, before the British Horseracing Authority’s latest decision to suspend the calendar from Wednesday.

Johnston, the most successful Flat trainer in British racing history having trained well over 4,000 winners, is keeping his fingers crossed for a swift resolution – describing the possibility of the entire Flat season being cancelled as “unthinkable”.

The Middleham handler said: “Obviously it’s very disappointing. I think, well hoped, racing could be the one sport that could continue behind closed doors.

“I’ve only just heard the news, so I haven’t had chance to properly go through the BHA’s reasoning behind it. I’m not going to criticise the decision, because I’m sure they had good reason for it.

“None of us knows how long this is going to go on for. I don’t know how it’s going to affect the people selling at the breeze-up sales – it could be an enormous blow for them – and it’s obviously going to hit racecourses very hard.

“The implications of it potentially cancelling the entire Flat season don’t bear thinking about. We’d have a whole generation of two-year-olds who haven’t been able to run – as I say, it’s unthinkable.

“It’s a situation none of us has ever encountered before, and my opinion on it changes every day.”

Classic-winning trainer Andrew Balding supports the BHA’s decision to cancel racing.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “Obviously there’s disappointment to some extent, but in light of what is happening in other countries and what could potentially happen here, it was the only decision that could be made – and I’m sure it’s the right one.

“Having a defining date of when it might resume would be a help, but I think that is impossible in these circumstances.”

While the jumps season is drawing to a close, the Flat turf season was scheduled to begin later this month – with crucial Classic trials due to take place.

“We had horses pencilled in for trials and important prep races that won’t take place now,” said Balding.

“So it’s up to the trainers to get to grips with the fact we won’t have the benefit of a trial – certainly for the Guineas anyway.

“We’ll have to make the best of the situation we’ve got. It is difficult if you don’t know when the fixtures might be rearranged, but it’s a question of coping with the hand you’ve been dealt.

“I read the Kentucky Derby is going to be postponed, so we’ll just have to see how the next few weeks play out here (with regards to the Classics) and see what results the quarantine measures achieved in Italy and other places.

“We’ll learn a lot more in the next few weeks – racing is an irrelevance in terms of what is going on in the wider world.”

Many racing yards run a tight ship – and with no prize money to earn for six weeks, some could struggle financially, although Balding hopes he will still be able to employ all his staff.

“I very much hope I can continue to employ all my staff – but as is always very much the case with racing, the owners foot the bill,” he said.

“At the end of the day, with the training fees – depending on how long this goes on – there may have to be a reduction in the rate if this goes on for a lengthy period.

“If it’s only a month we’re missing a handful of meetings, so it would be quite good timing – if there was such a thing in terms of what we might miss. It’s hard luck on the jumps trainers in terms of losing the National meeting.

“If this was to go on for two or three months, there would be ramifications (in terms of trainers struggling financially), but at the moment it would be alarmist to suggest it.

“If we can sit tight for the next fortnight and see what happens without getting too alarmed, (we can) be sensible about it.”