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France Galop has had what it describes as a positive and constructive meeting with French government authorities regarding a return to racing.

Meetings have been suspended since March 17 because of the coronavirus crisis but hope remains that action could resume next month behind closed doors.

France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild consulted with members of the French government on Tuesday, with the parties giving themselves 48 hours to come up with an agreement on how racing will deal with the impact of the pandemic.

“This morning, Edouard de Rothschild, Jean Pierre Barjon, Bertrand Meheut and Cyril Linette had a meeting with Gerald Darmanin, the Minister of Public Action and Accounts and Didier Guillaume, the Minster of Agriculture,” A France Galop statement said.

“It was a positive and constructive meeting. Representatives of the public authorities and of the industry have given themselves 48 hours to lay down the terms of an agreement, which will allow the horse racing industry to deal with and overcome the impact of the current health crisis.”

De Rothschild also tweeted after the meeting that hopes of a resumption next month were still alive.

“After meeting Ministers Darmanin and Guillaume I am not pessimistic about the resumption of the closed-door races on May 11. To be continued” he said.

Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is run on the first weekend in October but there are no guarantees this far out whether the public will be allowed to attend.

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