The BHA’s chief executive Nick Rust, said: "It’s right to continue this suspension until the pressure on the NHS allows for a resumption and we can assure the safety of those taking part."We are in touch with government as part of our development of a responsible, coordinated plan for the return of sport when it’s appropriate to do so."We’ll continue to develop a range of options drawing on the expertise of our participants and racecourses.

"But for now, we are all focused on ing the national effort, maintaining social distancing restrictions and taking care of our people and our horses."

More on this story here.

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The suspension of all horse racing in Great Britain because of coronavirus has been extended indefinitely.

On 18 March, meetings up until the end of April were cancelled because of the pandemic.

That ban has been extended, with no new date for a resumption given, although plans are in place to allow the sport to restart as soon as possible - theoretically as early as May.

The British Horse Racing Authority said if racing does resume, meetings would take place behind closed doors until June at the earliest.

Dave Woods
BBC Rugby League correspondent

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England head coach Shaun Wane is optimistic that this year's Ashes will go ahead - even if that means switching dates and venues for the planned three matches against Australia.

The Kangaroos' first away series against England for 17 years, set for October and November, seems less than certain amid the current coronavirus pandemic.

But 55-year-old Wane, appointed to the England job in February, would be happy to play "wherever and whenever" in order to get the series on.

"There’s more important issues than our sport," Wane said. "Once that’s sorted, if we can get the Ashes on, then fantastic."

Mal Meninga's Australia are due to tour England for the first time since 2003, with matches set for Bolton on 31 October, Leeds on 7 November and Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium on 14 November.

More here

An interesting idea...

Borussia Monchengladbach fans will be able to show their if the Bundesliga resumes behind closed doors - with cut-outs of themselves in the stadium.

Geraint Thomas is undertaking three epic rides to raise money for the NHS during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Thomas is cycling on an indoor trainer in his garage at home in Cardiff for 36 hours over the course of three days.

"I thought I'd set myself the challenge of mirroring an NHS worker's shifts - so doing three 12-hour shifts," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Today is day one and he's already hit his £100,000 fundraising target. You can watch him live on his official Facebook page.

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Former Football Association CEO Mark Palios says a "double figure" number of English Football League clubs could go into insolvency because of coronavirus.

The EFL and Professional Footballers' Association proposed on Tuesday that clubs in Leagues One and Two defer up to 25% of players' wages for April.

Tranmere chairman Palios said clubs will still not be able to pay on time.

But he added: "The PFA and EFL are starting to collaborate which loosens the paralysis we've seen."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Palios continued: "It will probably assist with the April wages, but I still think that certainly the clubs will be unable to meet the wages in April and then more in May."

Read more here.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The coronavirus pandemic could act as a “watershed moment” for world record mega-money transfer deals in football.

That’s the view of Roger Bell, a strategy consultant at football business performance analysts Vysyble.

“This is a watershed moment,” said Bell. “The transfer market is a symptom of a wider problem.

“For some time now, wages and transfer fees have been beyond any kind of economic sense.

“Premier League clubs owe £1.6bn in outstanding transfer fees that is due to be paid this summer. Where is that money going to come from?”

Sources at major clubs have noted that some of the figures being mentioned for transfers appear to take no of the position clubs find themselves in.

In recent days, it has been suggested Tottenham would sell striker Harry Kane for a world record £200m, whilst England winger Jadon Sancho has been quoted in the £120m category. If they went through, these would be two of the three most expensive deals of all time.

But it has been noted even the wealthiest clubs are wrestling with huge financial issues as they try to keep themselves stable.

Of their three major revenue streams, match-day income is shut down completely, massive question marks hang over TV revenue and most sponsors – large and small – are experiencing the same kinds of acute issues as the clubs themselves.

In the worst case scenarios, it has been suggested football will not return until well into the autumn, with spectators unlikely to be allowed into stadiums for the rest of the year.

If that situation unfolds, the belief is there simply will not be the money around to pay the sums being spoken of and the price of deals will reduce as clubs try to reset their financial model.

New dates for the Tour de are the latest switch to the sporting schedule caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Big events traditionally held earlier in the year have been moved to later in 2020.

Image source, BBC Sport

Professional clubs in have been given the option of proposing wage deferrals to players for the month of April.

In a document seen by BBC Sport, the French players’ union has reached an agreement with Ligue 1 and 2 clubs to delay pay until the end of the 2019-20 season.

French football was suspended on 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, French president Emmanuel Macron extended a ban on mass gatherings in the country until mid-July.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent

British jockey Tom Marquand has been cleared to continue riding in Australia this week despite itting an accidental breach of Covid-19 regulations when successful at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney on Saturday.

Marquand, who’s been enjoying a purple patch during a spell riding in New South Wales where fixtures are taking place behind closed doors, was fined 2,000 Australian dollars (£1,011) for hugging stable-hand Safid Alam, who was fined 500 Australian dollars (£252) after the success of the William Haggas-trained Addeyyb in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Medical staff said neither had shown any symptoms of the virus.

In a statement, organisers said: "Following the President’s address on Monday evening, where large-scale events were banned in until mid-July as a part of the fight against the spread of Covid-19, the organisers of the Tour de , in agreement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), have decided to postpone the Tour de to Saturday 29th August to Sunday 20th September 2020.

"Initially scheduled to take place from the 27th June to the 19th July, the Tour de will follow the same route, with no changes, from Nice to Paris.

"The women’s event, La Course by le Tour de avec FDJ, which was initially scheduled to take place on the 19th July on the Champs Elysées, will also be postponed to a date that is still to be determined, but it will take place during the Tour de 2020."

Image source, Getty Images

Cycling's governing body, the UCI, has announced that the Tour de has been postponed.

It will now take place from 29 August to 20 September.

Liam Loftus is back with another episode of ‘Quarantine & Chill’ and this episode is a football special.

We have Pogba trick shots, Ronaldo makes a stay at home gym, and James Milner doing James Milner things.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the club's proposed takeover.

He said: "Of course Newcastle fans are excited about it. They have been down this road before, but this one seems to be giving them bit more hope.

"So if it does go through, a lot of fans will be celebrating the fact Mike Ashley has left and the club possibly has a bright future with new owners.

"I think Ashley has given the club a lick of paint on the outside during his tenure, but on the inside the club hasn’t really been touched, so that needs addressing.

"But all fans, not just Newcastle fans, want to see investment in players. So can the new owners do that?

"Amanda Staveley has been about before and hopefully she can get this one through. Legal documents have gone to Companies House and the Premier League are dealing with it as well so hopefully it can be pushed through.

"And in this horrendous time for everyone across the world, at least for Newcastle fans they can see a little bit of hope and happiness if this does goes through."

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

I think it’s the closest we have possibly been to a sale than ever before. But for all Newcastle fans, they don’t want close, they want completion.

I think the framework is in place. The documents lodged at Companies House that became public were documents involving Mike Ashley’s company St James’ holdings to P, who are heading this proposed takeover led by Amanda Staveley.

It is a very complicated document, 31 pages, but if this transaction goes through I am reliably told it would be a debt free transaction that would see Amanda Staveley conclude the takeover.

However, while we are close, this is Mike Ashley, this is Newcastle United, we have been here before.