Following the State Government’s announcement yesterday of the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan, and that Greater Geelong, Mitchell Shire and Surf Coast Shire have entered a seven-day period of lockdown, Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) issues the following updates.

 

Racing Schedule Changes

Due to the ongoing curfew in Greater Melbourne, which includes Melton, the following racing calendar amendments have been made to HRV’s October schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup

The Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup meeting will be held at Bendigo on Saturday, October 9, featuring the $300,000 Grand Circuit Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, the $200,000 Lather Up Victoria Derby Final and the $150,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks Final.

Curfew / Permits

The State Government imposed a 9pm to 5am curfew for Greater Melbourne starting August 16, which will run for the duration of the extended lockdown.

Permits are required for authorised work.

Authorised workers will be required to carry permits when working.

Face Masks

All persons attending a Victorian race meeting, racetrack or licensed premises must wear a properly fitted face mask at all times. Only those with a government permitted exemption (i.e., a medical condition) will be permitted to not wear a mask.

Masks are not required to be worn by drivers competing during a race, but masks must be worn at all times in the stalls, driver rooms and the parade ring.

Racetrack Access and Operational Procedures

All persons entering racetracks must check in using the Club QR Code.

Stablehands must check in using both the Club QR Code AND the HRV Check-in form.

This important information will assist HRV in the event of contact-tracing being required and will reduce the chance of meetings being cancelled in the future.

A trainer must have only one stablehand present at a meeting or trial. The only exception will be where a Trainer has three or more horses engaged in a race meeting or trial in which case a maximum number of only two stablehands may attend in company with that trainer.  Permission can be obtained by stewards for an additional stablehand, however that is dependent on the number of horses engaged at that race meeting.

When travelling

Participants should also avoid where possible making unnecessary stops on the way to and from the races. Measures such as packing enough food for the day and ensuring you have refuelled prior to leaving your local area are encouraged. Unnecessary travel between ‘metro’ and ‘regional’ areas should be avoided.

Exposure sites

Participants are urged to regularly check the list of public exposure sites and follow all directions if they have attended one of those sites.  

Attendance

Victorian harness racing meetings and trial meetings can only be attended by essential personnel until further notice. Essential personnel include licensed industry participants with an engagement at that meeting and required staff for that meeting to proceed.

Any person who is feeling unwell or has attended a COVID-19 exposure site (click here for an updated list at the Department of Health website) or suspects that a close contact has done so is not permitted to attend a Victorian harness racing venue or licensed premises until they have fulfilled the government requirements for testing and isolation and submitted a HRV COVID-19 reporting form.

Any licensed participant who falls into this category should report the matter via this form or contact HRV on (03) 8378 0200. This form is vital and failure to report instances of contact may put participants in breach of Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR 238).

Visiting of training establishments/properties

HRV advises that non-essential persons are not permitted to attend Victorian public or private training facilities. This means registered training establishments and licensed harness racing venues.

Temperature testing

Temperature testing has resumed at all Victorian harness racing meetings.

New South Wales licensed participants

Participants licenced by Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) should refer to this HRNSW media release (dated September 10), which states: “Following consideration of the current COVID situation in NSW and Victoria, HRNSW advises that participants licensed in NSW, including those persons located within a ‘border bubble’ are not to enter Victoria for the purpose of attending harness racing meetings”.

Participants with queries on this matter should contact HRNSW stewards on (02) 9722 6655.

NSW trainers residing in areas outside of the border bubble are permitted to send their horses to Victoria to compete, if they use an approved horse transport provider and have completed HRV’s Interstate Horse Movement Declaration (click here to access that form) and HRNSW’s Trainer’s Representative Form.

Cross-border residents from New South Wales and South Australia

Cross-border participants must complete the Cross Border Declaration Form each time they nominate a horse to compete in a Victorian race or trial.

At the races

Drivers are asked to limit the time spent in drivers’ room and all enclosed and indoor areas of the racetrack.

All harness racing attendees are required to exercise appropriate physical distancing – that means a 1.5-metre distance should be maintained between persons wherever possible.

All participants are asked to leave the race meeting as soon as they have fulfilled their obligations in accordance with the Australian Harness Racing Rules (i.e., after completion of swabbing procedures, attendance before stewards etc.)

Participants are encouraged to pre-pack enough food and supplies for the duration of their engagement at race meetings as there is no guarantee food will be available at venues.

For a full list of COVID-19 protocols, click here. Industry is reminded that non-compliance may be subject to action by HRV stewards. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in significant penalties being imposed, including periods of disqualification, under AHRR 238 which states: “A person shall not fail to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the Controlling Body or the Stewards relating to harness racing or to the harness racing industry”

Vaccinations 

Everyone is encouraged to consult their healthcare professional and to consider booking their vaccination appointment. Information on appointments can be found here or here or by calling the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.