France reopens racing with Batwan win
STRICT social distancing measures were firmly in place when France Galop reopened racing at the Longchamp Prix de Saint-Georges in Paris.
Horse racing officials in the UK and Ireland are hoping to resume meetings, albeit behind closed doors
Batwan came through late to finish first amid a field of jockeys wearing masks flanked off the course by few personnel, the French Guineas starting a day late but thankfully marking the closed-door opening of horseracing.
“Certainly, we run behind closed doors,” tweeted France Galop’s chief executive Olivier Delloye. “But what satisfaction to see this first race work and thank you for supporting us.”
Racing has been suspended in France since March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but jetted back in style with jockey Maxime Guyon aboard Batwan, trained by P Sogorb.
