The 2020 Shergar Cup has been cancelled due to the issues around international travel for the jockeys involved, reported theguardian.com.
The Shergar Cup, which includes a women jockeys team, is typically scheduled for early August at Ascot, and Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing, said:
“Regrettably, given the complexities of flying jockeys around the world and uncertainty over what governmental regulations will be in place at the time, the Shergar Cup won’t take place this year.”
English jockey Hayley Turner was expected to take part, given she won the Silver Saddle for top rider last year for the second consecutive time, and said:
“I’m absolutely gutted. I understand why it has to be this way but the Shergar Cup is always the highlight of the year for me. It’s good fun and it’s nice to get together with the international riders. But we can’t grumble, can we? There’s a lot worse things going on.”
Also invited was Canadian rider Emma-Jayne Wilson.
Ascot hopes their Royal meeting will go ahead behind closed doors next month, but the challenges of the travel associated with the international team for the Shergar Cup has been a step too far.
Guy Henderson, Ascot’s chief executive, said: “We decided that this event, even if logistically possible, wouldn’t be the same without crowds and that the best option was to plan ahead to return with the event in 2021.”
