RACECOURSES will need to think carefully before rushing to welcome back racegoers when Covid-19 restrictions eventually permit.

That is the view of Limerick Racecourse manager Patrick O’Callaghan, who is concerned that the initial customer experience may fall short of the public’s expectations if racecourse buildings are not accessible and social distancing requirements remain in place.

Limerick Racecourse is privately owned and officials there want to see owners, racegoers and bookmakers return as soon as possible. However, O’Callaghan expects that numbers will be limited in the first instance and a day at the races will be different than in pre-Covid times.

“Every racecourse will take its own view but I think that when people do return to the racecourse they need to be made aware of what it’s not going to be. At the start, it’s likely we will be asking people to book online, demonstrate they have been vaccinated, have their temperature taken on arrival and then adhere to social distancing guidelines. It’s likely we will not have indoor facilities at the start and so the customer experience will be very different.

“Even if we gave away free tickets the customer may expect the same facilities as before. If racegoers have a bad experience they will remember it and it could turn them off. We need to avoid that happening. Personally, I would fear for the industry if we rush into it, but that’s a call for each racecourse to make.”

British return

On Monday, spectators will return to British racetracks for the first time since December. Among the changes to racecourse protocols will be a reduction in the size of ‘Green Zones’ on course for raceday officials, jockeys, trainers and other key staff, while owners will be allowed into the paddock and to socialise with trainers for the first time since last March.

Social distancing will continue to apply on course but while face coverings will still be required in the parade ring and indoors, they will no longer be mandatory in other outdoor areas on racecourses.

Tracks can accommodate up to a maximum of 4,000 or 50% of capacity, whichever number is lower.

The first meetings in front of a crowd will be Redcar and Carlisle on Monday afternoon – before Leicester and Windsor race in the evening.

Ffos Las race on Monday too, but the Welsh Government has still to announce a change to protocols – so for the time being, meetings will continue behind closed doors there.

The partial lifting of Covid-19 restrictions means the Derby meeting will be run in front of paying customers next month, and Royal Ascot will also have a crowd – although because stage four does not begin until June 21st, it remains unclear whether that showpiece meeting will be able to host 10,000 spectators.

Since lockdowns began in March 2020, spectators on British racecourses have been restricted to pilot events at Doncaster and Warwick in September and limited crowds at a handful of meetings in December.