RACING will go ahead in France on Monday despite a last-minute scare.
Rumours emerged on Friday morning that the French Government were rethinking their decision to allow racing to return.
And they were later backed up by reports in the French media that key figures in professional football – suspended until September in France – had challenged the decision to let racing resume.
That led to frantic meetings throughout Friday between France Galop and the Government, who had earlier given the sport the green light.
France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild tweeted late on Friday night to confirm clearance had been given for the action to recommence.
He said: “I wanted to win this race more than any of the others. Together we did it! Resumption of races is accepted. Let’s show them that they were right!”
In the tweet, Rothschild thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, his prime minister and minister of agriculture, as well as former presidential candidate Francois Bayrou and the mayor of Deauville, Philippe Augier.
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Racing has been on hold in France since March due to the coronavirus crisis, but Longchamp, Compiegne and Toulouse will restart the action, with the first-named card boasting four Group races.
Unbeaten Group 1 winner Victor Ludorum and the French Derby hero Sottsass are among the star names on show.
Racing resumed in Germany on Thursday with a 12-race card at Hanover, though there remains some doubt over when racing will resume in Britain and Ireland.
In the ‘Will racing resume on or before 1 June’ Betfair Exchange market, ‘Yes’ has drifted significantly out to 7-4.
The BHA will meet to discuss the implications of Boris Johnson’s Sunday evening address on Monday.