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Racing set to resume following coronavirus shutdown.

Racing in France is poised to return as planned on Monday after the Paris police gave permission to resume racing at ParisLongchamp.

The sport has been suspended since March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a number of meetings held without spectators leading up to that date.

France Galop has been working towards a resumption on May 11, with key Guineas trials, the Prix de la Grotte and Prix de Fontainebleau, scheduled for that opening day at ParisLongchamp – which now has police approval.

France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild tweeted: "We obtained and received from the Prefecture de Police de Paris the authorisation to resume racing on May 11. This is very good news and a real victory!"

Olivier Delloye, chief executive of France Galop, admitted his relief at clearing that particular hurdle.

He said: "I was very much relieved by the news we got this morning.

"As we already announced, we have had some strong support from the ministers in charge of racing – the ministers for finance and agriculture – so it was more a question of local areas allowing us to proceed.

"We have explained in close detail how we will race behind closed doors and we have had positive feedback from them."