Some of the UK’s largest bookmakers including Ladbrokes have urged Aintree organisers to push back the date of one of the UK’S largest racing schedules The Grand National. Boris Johnson the UK prime minister announced Monday a clear roadmap of getting the country out of lockdown.
Push Back Date
The Grand National is due to take place on the 10th April 2021, this would happen two days before the scheduled reopening of high street betting shops. Simon Clare from Ladbrokes suggested putting back the date of the famous Randox Grand National would give a much-needed financial boost to the UK economy after months of closures due to lockdowns.Clare said, “Now we’ve seen the dates for the government roadmap – which are provisional – and the fact that there is potential for betting shops to open on Aril 12th, the obvious issue is the Grand National. It is the biggest betting race of the year – the race which millions of people enjoy as a national celebration. It was lost to the pandemic in 2020 and would take place two days before shops open this year. It is the one race where betting shops provide a big service. There are a lot of once-a-year punters who want to come and have a bet on the big race.”
Hopeful
Horse Racing has seen a great deal of change over the past year. Firstly, the fixtures were halted, and no racing took place for months after the first lockdown back in March 2020, and secondly, when the racing resumed spectators visiting the races were suspended and betting shops closed down. Racing administrators are already working hard to reschedule plans after the cold snap this winter prohibited some races from taking place.Administrators are also working hard to push back the five-day event for a week in the hopes of getting a bigger crowd in. The current rules around race meetings mean races would still have a limited number of racegoers but hopefully in June the restrictions could be lifted.