While so many businessmen are wringing their sanitized hands over the Coronavirus outbreak, Henlow/Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby has seized the initiative with massive plans for the future.
Boothby has invested in his own line of PPE and hand sanitizers, all part of a bigger plan for the months and years ahead.
He said: “I was looking at all the options open to us because in my opinion, the repercussions from Coronavirus will still be with us in a year’s time, maybe longer.
“It started with me looking at what position we will be in when we are ready to start racing again. I am not making any predictions on when that will be. We are working in full cooperation with Mark Bird and GBGB who will be producing a statement in due course.
“But sooner or later, we will begin racing again and it was obvious that we will need significant amounts of PPE. I have some friends in industry and have arranged massive quantities of visors, masks, gloves and hand sanitizers. It is pretty much a limitless supply. I can have 10,000 bottles of sanitizer by the end of the week, plus we are doing 75ml amd 125ml tubes on chains which people can hang around their necks.
“They are being branded as ‘Towcester’ and I will be in a position to supply to other tracks if they need it. A percentage of any sale will be going to our home finders.
“The reason that I need such big quantities is that I have plans for drive-through cinemas and theatres at Towcester. We have huge screens and plenty of space. As the weather improves, families will be desperate to get into the fresh air for entertainment and we can section off plots for small groups, even provide picnic hampers.
“It is too early to give details, but we have been approached by a major organisation who want to come to Towcester and use the facilities for performances.
“This might all seem a bit bizarre at the moment, because we are not used to it. But things are going to be unrecognisable for a long time. Can anyone see pubs and restaurants re-opening before the end of the year? Yes, you might be able to open a restaurant with social distancing, but can you make it pay if you have to cut your numbers by 75%?
“We have 320 acres here and we have never relied on public transport. What’s more we could have theatre, cinema and greyhound racing all taking place at the same time. For that we will need plenty of PPE, for staff and visitors, and we are fully equipped and ready to go.”
