Only members can go to this weekend's meeting Jersey Race Club meeting after it was told permission to hold races could be withdrawn.

The club says it has no choice but to restrict access to Sunday's races.

In a statement, it says a senior official from the Bailiff's office visited the last meeting, along with police officers, threatening to withdraw permission for racing unless additional measures were put in place.

The Race Club says it is willing to comply, but that it will take time to do so, and so it has to close this weekend's meeting to the general public.

There will be no on-line sale of tickets and walk-up racegoers will be turned away at the gate.

This Sunday’s fixture features the Channel Islands Champion Hurdle, one of the season’s annual highlights, and will feature runners from the UK.

"The only non-members permitted to access the course will be the horses’ owners, trainers and those employed in the welfare of the horses together with racecourse staff."

"... The Jersey Race Club has been operating under restrictions for the three fixtures so far this year, but following a visit at the last meeting by a senior official from the Bailiff’s office, accompanied by police officers, the Club was told it must introduce rigorous additional measures or racing would not be allowed to take place."

Champion jump jockey Brian Hughes is coming to ride in the Champion Hurdle and bringing his family for a holiday

Bunny Roberts, Race Club President said, “It’s important that we go ahead. Leading trainers, jockeys and owners are travelling to Jersey for the racing which will be the centrepiece of their holiday and it would be damaging to Jersey to disappoint them.”

I must apologise on behalf of the Race Club to all those who enjoy a trip to the races and who will be disappointed, but under the circumstance we have no alternative to holding a closed meeting.”