Covid-19 vaccination hub in Newbury to shut to allow horse racing to go ahead

The spokeswoman for the racecourse said: "We have made provision for it so it is not hampering the vaccination process.

"The vaccination centre opened last week and the NHS was made aware of the race day.

"We have an abundance of space but a decision was made we would not operate both the race day and the vaccination centre this week but that is being reviewed so both may be open in the future." It's understood that the race course has one race day in February and a further four in March. Under current government regulations in the United Kingdom, horse racing is allowed to continue due to its designation as an 'elite sport'. The sport was one of the first to return in the UK in 2020 after sport's initial hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Its return was celebrated by MP for Newmarket and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has a close relationship with the horse racing industry. From May 2019 to June 2020, Hancock received £68,000 in donations from horse racing industry figures.