Yesterday we held test events at Southwell and Kempton Park, which enabled us to pilot the new protocols and infection control measures. Many thanks to owners who attended the test events and provided useful feedback to help inform our continued planning. 

 Following these test events we can confirm that owners will be able to attend race meetings from Saturday 4 July, in line with the interim measures in place initially to ensure this is done safely and in accordance with government guidelines on the return of sport behind closed doors.

 We will continue to review our guidance on the return of owners and, as explained previously, seek to make improvements where possible to move towards a more integrated owner experience.

 This update provides additional information, including some clarifications and changes, ahead of the wider rollout of the return of owners this weekend. These have been incorporated into the guidance for owners, which can be read here.

 Owners returning in Scotland

 Owners will be able to attend behind closed doors fixtures in Scotland, starting with the meeting at Musselburgh on Friday 10 July, following approval from the Scottish Government.

 The safety and infection control measures introduced earlier this week will apply to all race meetings in Scotland, and all owners attending the racecourse are asked to familiarise themselves with the guidance.

 Please note that some racecourses are not yet able to accommodate owners, as they remain subject to local authority clearance or are still in the process of finalising their own plans. Owners will be notified in advance about whether a racecourse is able to welcome them at this time.

 Briefing areas for owners and trainers

 At yesterday’s test events, racecourses piloted the use of briefing areas, which give owners the opportunity to speak to their trainers and / or jockeys before and after the race, while continuing to maintain social distancing and adhering to other infection control measures.

 Racecourses are working to introduce briefing areas for all fixtures where it is practicable to do so. Provision may vary depending on the racecourse, and owners will be advised as to how the briefing area will operate on arrival at the fixture.

 More information

 The full protocols for owners returning to racing behind closed doors can be viewed here. Owners are asked to familiarise themselves with the document before attending a race meeting behind closed doors.

 The ROA has developed a dedicated webpage to support owners during the return to the racecourse. This includes a Frequently Asked Questions document.

• For further information on the return of owners to racecourses, please contact the ROA on 01183 385680 or via: [email protected]. The ROA is contactable 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-12pm Saturday and Sunday.
• For specific questions about the RCA’s PASS please contact the PASS Helpdesk on 01933 270333 or via [email protected]. The PASS helpdesk is contactable 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm Saturday and Sunday