RICHARD Johnson hopes racing can resume in early May after the sport was shut down for six weeks due to coronavirus.
The four-time champion jumps jockey rode behind closed doors at Taunton on Tuesday, the final day before racing was suspended in the UK.
He spoke of his disappointment at the sport being cancelled, meaning he has lost out in the jockeys' title race to Brian Hughes.
But Johnson, 42, admitted the health of the general public must take priority.
He said: "It's a frustrating time for us all – none of us is sure what to expect or knows what is around the corner.
"It was strange yesterday to race behind closed doors, but then the news broke that yesterday would be the last day completely.
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"It's disappointing, obviously – because we all want to keep racing – but at the same time, the health of the country takes priority."
Racing came in for criticism for staging the Cheltenham Festival, but Johnson believes the correct decision was made.
He continued: "The situation was progressing on a daily basis. Last week we were finding out more about it, the Government and the BHA were taking different steps along the way – and now we've reached the point where we've stopped racing.
"Hopefully it won't be too long – but that's the trouble, nobody really knows what is ahead of us.
"Last week we enjoyed Cheltenham. Unfortunately I didn't have much success there, but it was great to have the Festival – it went smoothly, but things have moved up a gear since then.
"It was reasonably normal. The public were trying to enjoy their day out, and it was a great event, as it is every year.
"Hand sanitisers were everywhere, and there was lots of advice – we were updated daily by the course doctors to take precautionary measures.
"It was great to get Cheltenham on. But things have changed over the last few days, and things have changed all the time."
While racing has ground to a halt, Johnson stressed there is plenty of work to be done to ensure a smooth return when the action can start once again.
He said: "All the horses still have to be ridden out – depending on owners if they want to give theirs a period of rest now – but they still have to be kept going.
"Jockeys have to keep going too. I have about 20 horses at home, so we've been busy this morning.
"I'll have plenty to keep me busy. But nearly everyone in racing is self-employed, so we just have to hope like the rest of the country that things improve and we can get back to normality as quickly as possible.
"Racing behind closed doors was slightly eerie – but when you are actually in the race it didn't feel very different. If we have to go back to that, it's something we would be happy with, but we'll all be led by the advice of the Government.
"I've a young family and an older mother and father, so I just want everyone to stay safe and get through this outbreak."
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