Ruby Walsh: Why UK racing could be among last to restart around the world

Racing hasn’t stopped in Sweden because of coronavirus, where they’re racing behind closed doors.

Hong Kong has also continued to race behind closed doors, and so have Japan. I think Germany have put a date on when they want to start back and so have France. Meanwhile, Ireland are looking at early May.

But with all those jurisdictions, what you have is one group or one body in charge.

Unfortunately, that is not the case in the UK.

READ: Ruby Walsh: Horse racing in Japan is so different – I had to interview twice to get a licence! 

There are so many people in charge of racing in England. The BHA (British Horseracing Authority) are only one body but you’re going to have so many others involved with their own ideas of what is right and what is the best way to go about it.

Getting a decision in the UK is going to be harder than it is everywhere else. In Ireland with have HRI (Horse Racing Ireland), and whatever they decide people will go by. It’s Galop in France.

I know in Ireland and England we’re not led by a Tote but all those other countries are as well. I think the UK could be quite a bit behind the rest of the world in regards to getting back to racing.

READ: Ruby Walsh: The Irish Grand National win I didn’t get any satisfaction from

Arena, Jockey Club, racecourses, you have different TV companies involved, you have BHA, Horsemen’s Group and whatever else.

You will have four or five different parties and each will have a different idea as to what is the right thing to do.

Whether HRI or France Galop get it right or wrong, it’ll be one party making the decision. But in the UK there will be a lot of people with a lot of theories trying to figure out what to do.

FROM PADDY POWER’S RACING ICONS DOCUMENTARY WITH RUBY…

• I took Annie Power home for the summer… and horse joined our family BBQs!
• My biggest Cheltenham regret and one race I’d love to have a second chance at
• Ruby’s hilarious story about dad Ted’s terrible medical advice after nasty leg break