Why 2020 can't end soon enough for Fontwell and Goodwood

Fontwell has had a tough end to a forgettable year / Picture: Getty

When the goverment announced just over a month ago that spectators could return to top-level sport arenas, albeit in limited numbers. staff at Fontwell were celebrating.

It meant they could welcome 2,000 racegoers for each of their two December jump-racing meeting.

They did just that for their December 8 meeting – and planned to do the same for the festive fixture on Monday of this week.

Empty stands were the story of the year at Goodwood / Picture: Getty

But five days before it was due to be held, Sussex was told it was being moved into tier four from Boxing Day – and for Fontwell, that meant no crowd would be allowed.

Still, racing could go ahead behind closed doors ... until rain left parts of the site waterlogged and forced the action to be abandoned anyway.

Fontwell officials will hope 2021 is altogether more positive, although there is little prospect of any crowds being allowed back in the immediate weeks to come.

The year 2020 was, of course, a tough one for Goodwood too.

They managed to stage 13 fixtures between June and October – only six fewer than they normally host – but all were behind closed doors.

They were all set to be part of a government scheme to test crowds returing to elite sport by welcoming 5,000 members in for the final day of Glorious Goodwood on Saturday, August 1.

But 24 hours before the gates were due to open, the government scrapped the whole plan.

Here’s to a happier 2021...