KARACHI: The Karachi Race Club (KRC) has joined the coronavirus chorus by cancelling the Gymkhana race meetings for 15 days with immediate effect.

The decision came in the aftermath of government’s announcement to suspend public gatherings for a fortnight.

“The races have been cancelled for two weeks,” a late Friday night announcement by a spokesperson for the KRC said.

The cancellation is likely to effect three racing weeks of the current month starting from Sunday (March 15).

The cancellation of three racing weeks will incur an approximate loss of Rs1.5 million to the KRC, sources told Dawn.

Responding to a question he said stringent measures have been taken since start of the month which includes twice a day insecticide spray in the stables, besides sanitising the grand stand, offices and betting ring on race days.

“Ninety percent of horses are fit and regularly having morning trackworks while the rest are undergoing treatment of minor injuries,” he said when asked about condition of horses.

Earlier on Friday, the KRC had issued a smart seven-race handicap for Sunday’s meeting that now stands cancel.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2020