HORSERACING could return to Musselburgh Racecourse with back-to-back behind-closed-doors meetings on June 30 and July 1.

The East Lothian course has not held a racing fixture since February due to the coronavirus.

Now, action could return, after five provisional fixtures, from the end of next month until the end of August, were allocated by racing’s governing body, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The other Musselburgh fixtures are on July 10, July 30 (evening) and August 26.

Bill Farnsworth, Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, said: “We are planning to resume racing again at Musselburgh on Tuesday June 30 and Wednesday July 1 by staging controlled racedays, which will be without spectators.

“We have adapted our operational procedures to ensure these behind-closed-doors meetings meet the highest health and safety and bio-security standards.”

A total of 24 meetings in June, July and August will be staged at Scottish racecourses, subject to a range of factors, particularly public health and the approval of the Scottish Government.

The BHA has released protocols for racing behind closed doors, which includes specific guidance for the racing industry to help safeguard the health of employees and participants in a controlled and managed return to racing.

The protocols include detailed information for the safe movement of horses, jockeys, racing staff and their equipment.

Musselburgh previously confirmed its Stobo Castle Ladies Day fixture in June and its six scheduled flat fixtures in July and August had been cancelled and full refunds will be issued to customers who have purchased tickets.

Delly Innes, of Scottish Racing, which represents Scotland’s five racecourses, said: “The public can have confidence in our ability to race behind closed doors as safely as possible when the government allows more industries back to work.

“As a highly regulated industry we have considerable experience of keeping any potential health and safety risks to an absolute minimum.

“We are fully prepared to stage race meetings in a strictly controlled environment which fully comply with all the requirements of governmental and racing industry bodies, once they decide the time is right to resume racing.”

Racegoers who have purchased tickets for Musselburgh’s July and August meetings will be contacted shortly to arrange refunds while customers who purchased tickets in person or by telephone are asked to email musselburghracecourse@eastlothian.gov.uk to arrange a refund.