Kempton's Ladbrokes Christmas Festival will be staged behind closed doors following the latest announcement from the UK Government on areas of England which are to move to the highest level of coronavirus restrictions.
While nearby London moved to Tier 3 earlier this week, with the Sunbury track being in Surrey – at that time in Tier 2 – a crowd of up to 2,000, albeit not racegoers from the capital itself, was still set to attend the showpiece fixture which features the King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day.
However, the announcement to the House of Commons by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday that Surrey will now join Tier 3 means no crowd will be permitted.
A spokesperson for the track’s owners, Jockey Club Racecourses, said: "We know that racing fans will be disappointed to be missing out on some thrilling live action over the Christmas period, especially having only just been allowed to return to our venues in very limited numbers.
"However, we recognise we must all play our part in tackling this pandemic and look forward to welcoming racegoers back to our courses as soon as we’re able to do so."
Ascot’s pre-Christmas fixture this weekend has also been affected by the latest developments.
A statement from the track read: "The government confirmed today that the local authority in which Ascot is situated (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) will formally move into Tier 3 of Covid restrictions at midnight on Friday, 18 December which automatically means that the public cannot be admitted to Ascot on Saturday, 19 December, day two of the December Racing Weekend.
"Ascot has consulted with Public Health England and its safety advisory group, and the advice received is that it should not to be open to the public tomorrow, Friday, 18 December, day one of the December Racing Weekend. Therefore, Ascot will not be admitting the public for Friday’s racing."
Newbury’s Challow Hurdle card on 29 December is another which will be without racegoers over the festive period, as will the Tolworth Hurdle fixture at Sandown on 2 January.
