How is the Horse Racing industry coping on lockdown?
With all British and Irish racing cancelled for the foreseeable future due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, we've taken a light-hearted look at how those in the industry are trying to keep themselves entertained...
Jockeys
It's a strange time for all of us, but particularly for jockeys, who in the absence of regular opportunities to either race or ride out are having to keep fit from within their own homes.
This is proving easier for some rather than others, and the 2018 Champion Flat Apprentice Jason Watson has been showing exactly how it's done on social media, with an impressive lockdown fitness routine.
It's not just last year's Champion Apprentice who is getting in on the act, and the current champion Cieren Fallon Jr. has been keeping himself busy with some essential 'leg training' from within his own home...
Meanwhile, fellow Flat rider Ben Curtis has been getting riding practice any way he can, by keeping fit on a mechanical horse - while his young son joins in on his rocking horse alongside. Start them young!
However, while some of the younger jockeys are showing us all how it's done, 40-year-old veteran Davy Russell has been filling his time rather differently. The three-time Champion Irish Jumps Jockey got in on the act with the latest social media meme that's doing the rounds...
Dressed in complete Tiger Roll attire, and with some assistance from his wife, Russell brilliantly recreated one of his rides from his living room - all he needs now is a fence to jump!
Trainers
In these bizarre times, some unlikely commodities are becoming particularly valuable - such as toilet roll. As panic buying sweeps the nation, loo roll has proven rather hard to get hold of, though Malton-based Richard Fahey has suffered no such problem with his local department store - who have ordered them in on bulk to sit alongside their usual offering of clothing and DIY goods!
Meanwhile, the boredom seems to be taking its toll on Twitter sensation Fergal O'Brien, who has taken to jumping his own practice fences. The enthusiasm is certainly there, but he needs a lot of practice before he's noted down as a novice chaser to follow!
Horses
This year's Champion Bumper hero Ferny Hollow may not have another assignment on a racecourse for quite some time, but ha hasn't struggled to keep himself entertained in the meantime over at Closutton, with a range of 'toys' which will no doubt keep him amused for the foreseeable future...
With no racing to keep their horses entertained, the Phil McEntee team have instead opted to start dancing with their string, and although his/her three dance partners are showing plenty of enthusiasm, this two-year-old by Swiss Spirit doesn't quite seem to know what to make of things...
No racing? No problem!
A lack of horse racing has seen some trainers rather brilliantly take matters into their own hands, and we've seen some tremendous alternatives to keep us entertained on social media.
This includes the regularly-amusing Jamie Osborne, who has taken to racing bowls (I think!) down one of the roads at his yard. The videos have proven so popular that he's started roping in guest commentators to assist him, including champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy, and Jumps jockey Sam Twiston-Davies (below)...
Up in North Yorkshire, Phil Kirby has instead been calling on his dogs to step up to the plate, and they have been racing for their dinner up in Richmond with the Green Oaks Dog Derby. This is certainly well worth a watch, as the winner may not be who you expect...
Last but not least, Charlie Longsdon has put his three children to the test, by re-enacting his own personal version of the Grand National on his yard...
The racing is rolling on for the time being in some parts of the world, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled on the News section of our website to read our daily World Racing Guide.