鈥� COVID status certification for all people at fixtures with 4,000-plus attendees
鈥� Certification required for entry to Weighing Room Complex at all fixtures
鈥� Face coverings re-introduced in outdoor close-contact operational areas
British racing is prepared for the introduction of COVID status certification at racecourses in England from Wednesday 15 December, following the publication of updated UK Government guidance for sports venues.听
听Racing is also taking additional steps, as set out below, to help protect our people and our sport from the risk of COVID-related disruption.听听
听Certification for ALL racecourse attendees听
听As already听confirmed,听all attendees听at fixtures in England where attendance is likely to exceed 4,000 will be asked on arrival for evidence of COVID status certification.听听
听For the avoidance of doubt, this will apply to every individual aged听18 or over who intends to enter the racecourse at these meetings.听
听To enter the racecourse, every听individual听must:听
- Be fully听听(at least听two doses)听
- Or听have听completed a negative lateral flow or PCR test before attending, ideally within the previous 12 hours or at most within the previous 48 hours听
- Or听be听听based on approved medical exemption or clinical trial participation听
听One of the above will听always听be required at these fixtures.听Attendees are therefore advised to prepare for the use of COVID status certification at听all fixtures, as specific attendance numbers cannot always be known in advance.听
听Any person who does not have valid Covid status certification will be refused entry.听
听Certification for entry to the Weighing Room complex听
听To continue to protect racing鈥檚 business-critical attendees, everyone entering the Weighing Room complex will be required to present evidence of COVID status certification at听all fixtures, including those where attendance is unlikely to exceed 4,000. This will apply across all British racecourses.听听
听The Weighing Room is already subject to tighter infection control measures, with mandatory face coverings and social distancing requirements. COVID status certification adds another layer of protection 鈥� further reducing the risk of COVID-related disruption.听
听Weighing Room personnel will be required to present evidence of vaccination, a recent negative COVID test, or proof of exemption at听every fixture, regardless of attendee numbers. Entry will be refused if valid COVID status certification is not provided on arrival.听
听COVID Status certification 鈥� what you need听to do听
听All听attendees are advised to prepare to provide evidence of COVID status certification to enter the racecourse.听
- The easiest way to share COVID-19 vaccination records or test results is through the听, which is available to听听or can be requested as a听, either online or by calling 119. International attendees if vaccinated in another country can show听.听
- If you cannot provide evidence of vaccination status, a negative lateral flow or PCR test will enable you to enter the racecourse.听Rapid听lateral flow tests听can be ordered听through the听听or collected from a听. Proof of a negative lateral flow or PCR test can be听shown听using the听, or with a valid email or text from NHS Test and Trace.听A photograph of a negative test will not be accepted,听nor will the听actual test.听听
More information about the NHS COVID Pass and how to provide proof of COVID status in England, Scotland and Wales is听.听
听Face coverings听again mandatory听at all times听in听outdoor operational areas听
听Face coverings will be reintroduced in听outdoor听racing听operational areas听on British racecourses, including the听parade and pre-parade rings, saddling and unsaddling areas, horse walks, racecourse stables, at the start听and (for jockeys) it is advised they are worn during the race.听
听Every individual听working in or entering these areas, including听Weighing Room personnel, officials, trainers, owners, and guests, will again be required to wear a covering.听
听This precaution will help further protect business-critical personnel in those areas where close contact and mixing between Weighing Room staff and other attendees creates additional risk of transmitting the virus.听
听In line with government guidance, face coverings will also be required in most indoor settings on course, unless food or drink is being consumed.听
听Commenting on the tightening of restrictions, the BHA鈥檚 Chief Medical Adviser, Dr Jerry Hill, said:听听
听鈥淩acing must continue to do all we can to protect the health and livelihoods of our people and maintain business continuity. These measures are considered essential to support this objective at a time where cases of the Omicron variant of the virus are increasing exponentially and other sports听are听facing COVID-related fixture cancellations.听听
听鈥淚t鈥檚 vital therefore that we remain vigilant and take every possible precaution to safeguard our business-critical workforce, without whom the industry may struggle to staff all fixtures. This means getting vaccinated, testing regularly, and following the infection control measures on course, especially in higher-risk indoor and outdoor close contact areas.鈥�听
听Updated BHA Guidance and Operating Procedures听
听The requirements that will come into effect from Wednesday 15 December are being incorporated into the听.听听
听The latest version of this document will always be available on the听听and will be updated periodically in accordance with changes to government guidance.听
听Useful听information:听听
- Get an NHS COVID Pass:听听
- Order听or collect听NHS lateral flow tests:听听听
- BHA Guidance and Operating Procedures:听听听
