British horse racing suspended until the end of April

FILE PHOTO: Horse Racing - Grand National Festival - Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Britain - April 6, 2019 General view during the 5.15 Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - British horse racing will be suspended until the end of April because of the spread of coronavirus, the British Horseracing Authority said.

“This is a national emergency the like of which most of us have never seen before. We’re a sport that is proud of its connection to rural communities and to the local businesses that support our industry," said authority Chief Executive Nick Rust.