News: Perth Racecourse announces plan for phased return to racing for racegoers

Published 2021/05/27

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Perth Racecourse will begin a phased, safe and controlled return of racegoers to the Scone venue next month – marking the first time the course will welcome members of the public in 21 months.

The first phase, following permissions from Perth Safety Advisory Group (SAG), will see an agreed capacity of Perth Racecourse annual members attend bet365 Perth Gold Cup Day on Sunday, 6 June.

Pending re-confirmation from SAG post 6th June, the second phase will enable a small number of racegoers to return in a new Park & Picnic Bubble area for BRAW Raceday on Saturday, 19 June.

There will be no public sale of tickets – or “walk-ups” – available at this stage with all “Park & Picnic Bubble” car tickets for June 19 being offered next week, in the first instance, to those who held tickets for cancelled racedays in 2020 and who since transferred to a voucher rather than taking the option of a refund.

All such ticket holders shall be contacted directly. In advance of each event, all in attendance will be provided with information regarding what is expected of them on the respective racedays to ensure everyone on site complies with all Government guidelines and relevant protocols. Turning up without a ticket shall result in non-admission.

For the team at Perth, the phased return of racegoers will follow weeks of intensive planning and working closely with SAG and other key event partners, with the aim that it can enable a safe return of gradually greater numbers at meetings throughout the rest of the year.

Perth Racecourse CEO Hazel Peplinski said:

“The return of spectators to Perth has been a long time in the planning and I am delighted that we have now reached a position when we can safely welcome back a limited number. We have really missed them. Seeing our enclosures with racegoers enjoying our sport live shall give us back our sense of purpose.

“We have liaised with our Safety Advisory Group since the beginning of the pandemic and their advice and support has been invaluable throughout. It has been a long, even dark road at times but to hear the excitement of our Annual Members anticipating being permitted racing again has been a morale booster for the whole team.

“Perth’s business model is based on its strong attendances so to be able to share our sport once more in a safe environment shall put us firmly back on the road to recovery. Gradually we shall build confidence in June and aim for a strong second half to our season. Our product is still very good; now we have the start of our live audiences returning to complete the picture.”

bet365 Gold Cup Day sees bet365 return to support the fixture for a second successive season, with the bet365 Sam Morshead Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase the feature of the day, celebrating the life of the former Perth racecourse manager.

For the latest information about Perth Racecourse, follow Perth’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or https://www.perth-races.co.uk/.