UK betting operators hoping for the imminent resumption of the nation’s horseracing sector had their hopes dashed on Thursday after the COVID-19 suspension was extended.

On Wednesday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that the pandemic-related suspension of all racing meets, which was due to expire at the end of this month, would be extended indefinitely as the government plans to extend its current lockdown provisions by another three weeks.

The BHA, which imposed the racing suspension in mid-March, announced last week that it hoped to lift the suspension by May 1 pending government approval. But the government announced another 861 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, prompting Health Minister Matt Hancock to declare that “it is too early to make a change.”

The BHA says it will continue to plan for the resumption of some racing ‘behind closed doors’ next month if “the safety of participants can be assured and the pressure on the health service allows.” The BHA added that the idea of racing with crowds in the stands is out of the question “until June at the earliest.”