On March 17, 2020, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced the cessation of all horseracing from March 18 to the end of April, at the earliest. This preceded the decision of the British government to introduce restrictions on March 23 due to the World Health Organization (WHO) conferring global pandemic status on
Covid-19 on March 11, 2020. The restrictions included the prohibition of public gatherings of more than two people. These restrictions led to the cessation,cancelation, or postponement of major sporting events both nationally and internationally. The suspension of horseracing had considerable financial implications for those involved directly and indirectly in the sport, as horseracing is the second largest sport
in Britain in terms of attendance and revenue. Aside from the fiscal effects,
horseracing differs from other sports as the holding of seminal races is scheduled to correspond with the developmental stage of two and three-year-old thoroughbred horses. It also involves a human and non-human athlete, which distinguishes it from
other sports. Horseracing is not just a sport; it is an industry. This makes horseracing an interesting case study when examining it through the paradigm of the industry’s response to the pandemic.
Krieger, Jörg , April Henning, Lindsay Pieper, and Paul Dimeo