Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby responded to the GBGB’s call for interest in staging the 2021 English Derby within minutes of its publication.
He said: “We have the best facilities in the country, we have the best racing circuit, at least in my view, and we will honour the integrity of the English Derby by guaranteeing a six figure winner’s prize. As far as I am concerned, that is all we can do at this stage. I thought the two Towcester Derbys were exceptional, particularly the second one, and I would plan to do it even better.”
Despite the disaster of Covid since taking over the Northamptonshire venue, Boothby is hugely upbeat about the prospects of the site in 2021.
He said: “Because of Covid, we have been virtually unable to do anything in terms of getting people into the place, but behind the scenes there has been a lot going on. We have made great progress with the local council.
“We have applied for planning permission for a caravan site and motorhomes. We are buying 50 pods, which don’t need planning permission unless they have toilets and showers, and also setting an area aside for tents with a supply of water and electricity and other facilities on site.
“They will all be in place for next summer and we should have facilities for at least 1,000 people on-site. It wouldn’t just be a Derby Final, it would be a Derby Festival weekend.
“Clearly, the assumption is that the worst of Covid is out of the way by then and we are planning for a re-opening at Easter. 2021 could be memorable.”
