Haggas hopeful racing can cope

Rivals Publishing
March 20, 2020 5:30 pm

Trainer William Haggas has admitted racing is going through a 'worrying time' but believes the sport will be able to cope.

Like the rest of the sporting world, horse racing is having to react to the coronavirus pandemic and all British racing has been postponed.

The action in Ireland is continuing for now behind closed doors but no-one really knows when things will return to normal.

The start of the Flat season next month has been put back and the rest of the year could be badly affected by the virus.

Newmarket handler Haggas says people are doing their best to carry on behind the scenes in very difficult circumstances.

‘Obviously it is a worrying time, but everyone has got a bit of bulldog spirit and we are carrying on – being obviously very careful if anyone has a cough, cold, infection or anything,’ Haggas told Sky Sports Racing.

‘The horses that were forward and ready to run we’ve just taken a pull with, some of those who were not going to be ready until May or June, we’re training as normal.

‘I’m one of the few now who can remember what it was like before all-weather racing began and when I started we stopped at the beginning of November and began at the end of March so I’m used to it.

‘ He added: ‘If we were guaranteed to start at the end of April that wouldn’t be a problem at all – but that is the issue, nobody knows when we are going to start back.’