Talking Horses: King George behind closed doors after tier 3 extension


Kempton’s two-day Christmas Festival and holiday meetings at Ascot and Newbury will now go ahead with no crowds

Kempton’s two-day Christmas Festival meeting, including the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, has been forced to retreat behind closed doors following the announcement by Matt Hancock, the health secretary, that Surrey will move to the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions from Saturday.

The track had been hoping to welcome up to 2,000 spectators for the always hugely popular King George, around 20% of the normal attendance for the highlight of the Christmas racing programme, despite being obliged to tell fans from Greater London to stay away from the meeting after the capital also moved to tier 3 earlier this week.

Related: Talking Horses: a socially distanced Royal Ascot in the 2021 social calendar

Southwell

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