The traditional first meeting of the horse racing season was scheduled to take place at Les Landes on Easter Monday, 13 April, but club officials have announced their intention to safeguard both Islanders and visitors.
‘It is right that we make the decision now,’ said JRC president Mark Johnson.
‘Many people involved in horse racing in Jersey travel over for the meetings from the UK – including most of our jockeys, our medical officer and other officials – so as the highest attended spectator sport in the Island we have a duty to consider the wellbeing of local residents and visitors alike.
‘As Jersey does not have off-course betting, unlike in the UK, it is not possible financially for racing here to be conducted behind closed doors with no spectators. Quite simply that was never an option for us.’
The fate of the 75th Liberation anniversary Jersey Guineas Meeting on Monday 10 May will be announced in the coming weeks.
