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The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that all horseracing in Britain will be suspended with effect from tomorrow.

Last night, The Jockey Club announced that The Randox Health Grand National had been cancelled due to coronavirus.

Two race meetings are scheduled to take place behind closed doors at Wetherby and Taunton today, but race meetings will cease up to the end of April. The decision will be kept under constant review.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

The Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown in the United States, is set to be postponed.

It would be the first time for 75 years, since the Second World War, that the event is not staged on the first Saturday in May.

Scheduled for 2 May at Churchill Downs, Louisville, it is expected the race will be rescheduled for 5 September.

Known as the ‘Run for the Roses’ the Kentucky Derby is followed in the Triple Crown by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, which are also set to be postponed.

A formal announcement on the race, which usually attracts around 150,000 spectators, is expected later today.

Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone admits radical changes to the structure of the season may have to be considered if there is a prolonged shutdown.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) and Super League jointly announced on Monday that all fixtures, from the top flight down to the community game, will be postponed until April 3 at the earliest.

A full two rounds of league action will be lost and there is a major doubt over the Coral Challenge Cup sixth round ties which are due to be played on the weekend of April 4-5.

"It has to be very fluid. We've already talked internally and to the RFL about how we might accommodate that," said Elstone.

"Ultimately clubs want to protect their regular home season fixture list and that needs to take priority. There will come a point when it gets more challenging."

Alex Hales has also tweeted to confirm he is in self-isolation after showing coronavirus symptoms.

England batsman Alex Hales is in self-isolation after developing coronavirus symptoms.

Hales has most recently been playing for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 competition.

The remainder of the tournament has already been postponed because of the outbreak.

Image source, Getty Images

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The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has cancelled Development Tour events in Wigan, scheduled for 21-22 March, because of coronavirus.

The Players Championship weekend in Milton Keynes on 28-29 March has also been called off.

Three nights of the Premier League and a three PDC European Tour events were postponed earlier this week because of the outbreak.

"The health and wellbeing of players, fans, officials and staff at events has been at the forefront of our thoughts over the past week during an unprecedented time for everyone worldwide," said PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter.

"We issued precautionary measures around last week's Premier League night in Liverpool and Players Championship events to keep everyone as safe as possible.

"However, following Monday's announcements and further discussions with stakeholders including the PDPA and venues, we feel it is in the best interests of everyone involved in the sport to postpone the forthcoming Development Tour and Players Championship weekends during March.

"We had hoped to provide as many playing opportunities as possible for players in the coming weeks, and will work to rearrange these events during 2020."

The Melrose Sevens, the oldest rugby sevens competition in the world, dating back to 1883, has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

This year's event was due to be staged over the weekend of 11-12 April with Newcastle Falcons, the British Army and teams from France, Belgium and the Czech Republic taking part.

"Given the increased threat of Covid-19 to older people in particular, we are not willing to take any chances," said a statement.

"To be clear, we're not contemplating cancelling the event at this time, just postponing to another date.

"Postponing the Melrose Sevens will hurt the club financially as there are irretrievable and uninsurable costs.

"However we will get through this. We can confirm all tickets purchased will be valid for a rearranged date and we will communicate those details as soon as we are in a position to do so."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Organisers of British point to point racing have announced the season is over.

“This was a very difficult decision to make recognising that many people's livelihoods are involved. However, the Prime Minister's words last night made clear that everyone should minimise social contact and non-essential travel," said a statement from the Point to Point Authority.

“Furthermore, our sport creates some medical burden, both on the course and potentially at the hospitals, where it would be unwelcome under the current circumstances.

“The PPA would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard to keep this season going so successfully until now, often under very trying circumstances. We will now be working on preparations to ensure that we start next autumn in the same successful manner as last, and will soon be in touch with many of you for your thoughts and ideas.”

Point-to-Point is a form of amateur horse racing over fences held at a variety of venues throughout the UK.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have cancelled training in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Borussia Dortmund, who are based in North-Rhine Westphalia, the western region of Germany worst hit by the outbreak, have sent their first-team players home for the rest of the week.

Cologne, also based in North-Rhine Westphalia, said they would not train until 27 March at the earliest.

Meanwhile, staff and players at Hertha Berlin entered a 14-day quarantine after the club announced one of their players had tested positive for the virus.

Britain's Adam Peaty has reacted to the news that British Swimming events, including Tokyo 2020 trials, have been postponed.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The first of today’s meetings to work out the next steps for European football has concluded.

Representatives of Uefa, the European Clubs’ Association, the European Leagues and world players’ union Fifpro met by video conference, starting at 0900 GMT.

There has been no official word from the meeting but it is widely assumed a proposal to delay Euro 2020 has been made.

All 55 members of UEFA, including the Football Association, will discuss the plan, with any decision on Euro 2020 being made after that by the organisation’s executive committee.

Burnley

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has been named the Premier League Manager of the Month for February.

The Burnley boss guided the Clarets to an unbeaten four-match run – including wins over Southampton and Bournemouth.

Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Chris Wilder of Sheffield United were on the shortlist.

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British Cycling is suspending all sanctioned cycling activities, including racing, recreational rides and education courses, until at least 30 April following the updated advice from the government.

"We fully understand and appreciate the financial, social and community impact that this suspension could have, and we are working now to ensure that cycling is in the best possible health once the suspension can be lifted," said chief executive Julie Harrington.

"As I'm sure everyone can appreciate, these are truly unprecedented circumstances, and while we will be doing all we can to retain a sense of normality and continuity, it may take some time to return to full capacity as an organisation and as a sport once this situation has been resolved."

Wales and Scotland have followed suit with England Athletics, suspending all planned organised activity until the end of April.

"Welsh Athletics in cooperation with UK Athletics have decided to suspend all planned organised athletics activity until the end of April where the situation will be reviewed once more."

"Scottish athletics continue to explore the most suitable approach based on the guidance provided.

"As of today, the latest advice, particularly given the need to reduce social contact, has ledscottishathletics to recommend the following course of action."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott has backed the decision to cancel the Grand National and says the horse will be aimed at a third victory next year.

The big race at Aintree on 4 April was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tiger Roll had been favourite to become the first horse to win the National three years running.

“It is disappointing but everyone from Aintree and involved in it has to do what’s right to get everything back on track. So listen, we're all on the one team, you know,” he told BBC Radio Four.

Red Rum won the National three times in the 1970s, but no horse has completed the hat-trick in consecutive runnings.

Asked about next year, Elliott said: “There is every chance of him competing and he hasn’t got that many miles on the clock, and we will be training him back for the Grand National again.”

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"With regard to the statement made by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, all public tournaments under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control are unfortunately cancelled. Further consideration of the matter will take place at the beginning of April.

"We have a number of requests for tournaments to be held behind closed doors however, the practicality and logistics will be considered fully following advice from Board Medical Officers."

Chase Carey, Chief Executive Officer of F1, has posted this letter on social media:

"We apologise to those fans affected by the cancellation in Australia, as well as the postponement of the other races to date.

"We plan to get the 2020 season underway as soon as it's safe to do so. We are engaging with experts on a daily basis."

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Following dialogue with the FINA COVID-19 taskforce, the FINA Diving World Series finale, which was scheduled to take place at the London Aquatics Centre between 27th-29th March, has been postponed.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport

WST and ITV Sport have taken the decision to postpone this week’s Coral Tour Championship in Llandudno as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

The event was due to run from Tuesday to Sunday this week, televised by ITV4.

"We appreciate this is very short notice and a disappointment for the fans and the television audience, however the assessment could only be made at short notice after yesterday’s announcement from the government which came at 5pm.

"The box office at Venue Cymru in Llandudno will contact ticket holders . Those tickets will be transferred automatically to the rescheduled dates. Fans who are unable to attend in July can contact the box office after April 1st for a refund."

Announcements on future events including the World Championship will be made in due course, with all scenarios to be considered depending on further government advice.

The Rugby Football Union has suspended all levels of the game in England until 14 April because of coronavirus.

The announcement came soon after the Premiership was halted for five weeks.

The RFU said all activity, including club training, league and cup matches, and rugby education courses, should be stopped.

The quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, scheduled for 3, 4 and 5 April, have also been postponed.

The Pro14 and Top 14 leagues were suspended indefinitely last week.

The RFU said its decision to suspend all rugby activity came after Monday's government advice, which included avoiding "non-essential" travel and contact with others.

More on that here.

Image source, Getty Images