it is interesting this thread. One would have to accept that, disproportionately, gamblers are probably more risk averse than the average member of society. But , unless I have this wrong, the majority on this thread are, as I am, extremely sceptical about the present method of extricating ourselves from this mess. Even accepting our "bias", it is staggering that views that object to the present regime are so thin on the ground in the MSM. I wonder if the sceptics are going to grow in numbers and volume. Let's be honest, if this is what we are faced with on September 14th, we are going to be in the same position in spring. Surely......SURELY....it will become apparent that we cannot continue like this?  My guess is that, as furlough £ recedes, more people will rebel. God knows we have to. I live on my tod. 64yo. I have weathered the first 6 months on the basis that we may be back to a form of normality by now. The thought of spending November - March in that dark with FA to do save watch telly is......Don't know what to do to be honest. They are totally and utterly wrong. Innumerate. Risk -averse. Callus. Scared. But, sadly, in charge ( and I have voted Tory my whole life). No hope now.

I fear you are right SMB. Although, eventually, there is no more £ to borrow, and further printing leads to Weimar Republic inflation. Most of the populations of all the western world do not understand that £ is limited without consequences. As my old economics master told me, inflation is "too much £ chasing too few goods". We will be there in spring. Leaving aside the health and well being (on a wider basis)of the nation(s).

Doncaster racecourse now has the contact details of 2,500 members of the public who attended an outdoor event.

If they ensured none had Covid19 symptoms when they entered the course today, why not get in touch with them in 2 weeks' time to check they are still clear?

Surely this would show that racing is trying to help the situation.

After all the whole country was informed, on National news, that this crowd trial took place today.

Surely this would show that racing is trying to help the situation. --  I'm not sure why racing should be bothered. What a sad state of affairs.

You're right truehoncho - what is the point of bothering, after today's decision by Doncaster Council.

Nobody allowed into the course today had Covid19 how could they spread it?

I wouldn't bother going anyway, the things going on is disgusting and sad for society

I can remember going to Donny and being able to buy a burger with change, buy a drink with change, have a drink and watch the horses from the rail as they ran past

What a sad facking world we've had forced on us

truehoncho...You may be right about the NHS not being overwhelmed but it would be an extremely chancy thing to put to the test and no government would do that. I can see you have a very rigid view over this but my 60 years on this plant have taught me that life is almost never black and white, but generally shades of grey.

But, in the end, as far as racing goes, it does not matter about the NHS and its ability to cope.

That's because around 60% of racecourse attendances are under 2000, and around 40% less than 1000. Hence, if the RCA would stand up to DCMS a bit and make a case for small trials as a forerunner to crowds of less than 1k to start, a lot of us would feel things were moving in the right direction.

But, they seem to have been holding the view that big trials were best. Let's see if the change to pilot numbers alters the thinking.

BTW, I was at Donny today on my Southwell badge. The track did well and I was surprised at how much room we had in members. Even had a paddock side spot, although a few yards further back than normal. If racing had to be like it was today for a while, I would not be too unhappy although it was not ideal and the atmosphere was zero - worsened by the news about the rest of the week.

they probally want big trials because they want big crowds,they dont really care too much if those small meetings are run behind closed doors,its the cheltenham's they really want to get crowds back too

i agree .... some small meetings... learn how to manage them and by their mistakes and legt us get back to normal..makes sense to me

yes brains, i agree  of course it should be let them into the smaller race meetings, most midweek race meetings only have a few thousand in ( bar the big meetings) even newmarket is quite sparse on some race days.

well said dodger

When a local council health official can close anything down, any event you have no chance, he bowed to pressure from higher up the council, the bbc news report was live outside doncaster lunchtime news , it was big news doncaster council bottled it, who is going to risk hundreds of thousands of pounds again when its like this, its got to be a few hundred to start with, doncaster races to blame they saw a chance for a killing and paid the price

Absolutely Ian. I wish everyone looked at the stats. In fact the 2018/19 flu epidemic was roundly criticised for being under reported.

truehoncho, although you are trying hard to make a valid case for this all being an over-reaction, you do seem to be forgetting one issue. The empty hospital beds were almost certainly because of lockdown.

If I take your argument to a logical conclusion, it seems you think the infection rate would have dropped by itself WITHOUT a lockdown?

Take a look at the figures and graphs - if you don't believe even them we are wasting our time discussing this - and you will be able to work out that had COVID been allowed to progress in the manner the modelling suggested it would, we would have run out of critical care beds very, very quickly. And then normal beds, and then space in the street for those needing a hospital to queue up in!

Now, it may be that you think the modelling was incorrect but what else could the authorities do? Take a gamble that it would all work out OK, or try to change the predicted course of the figures with a lockdown?

I am not disputing for one minute that now, especially with a rising number of infections again, it is going to be hellish to get back to normal because of jobsworths and overkill but I fail to see how you can ignore the data?

And please do not quote Sweden to me. Unlike most on here, I have studied the virus figures at great length. Sweden's density of population is vastly different than ours and it can never be a like for like comparison.

To end, do not get me wrong. I hate all of this. From going racing 4 or 5 times week since 2013 to nothing for six months has been terrible for me, but, with some reluctance, I have to admit most of the measures taken by various governments were necessary.

One final thing, as well. Forgive me if it wasn't you, but remarks like 'the vulnerable should take care of themselves' are extremely immature and nasty. Covid is not the only thing society has to look after each other over and it is unavoidable that you will be old - and possibly vulnerable - one day yourself.

cos it was made in a lab.

@ The Knight.  I am not convinced at all that the infection rate dropped because of lock down, it maybe helped a little.  Just look at the ONS graphs for death numbers, the numbers were already coming down before the lock down if you take account of the time allowed for measures to kick in and time between catching the virus and dying.

Yes Screaming and by week 44 (end of October) we will begin the flu season proper. Deaths will start to rise and for the first time ever we will be counting flu deaths. I have no idea how it will pan out but it will be interesting. If 1500 a day are dying at the turn of the new year it will open a few eyes.

Well Ian, I posted that very post back in April. The world has gone mad and lost all sense of perspective. They are driven by useless/corrupt (take your pick it doesn't matter which) politicians and a lazy media. Along with social media being orchestrated by big corporations we have created a perfect storm. No wonder the conspiracy theorists are having a whale of a time.