Victorian harness racing clubs can now identify race dates and apply to host crowds on-course for those meetings under COVIDSafe protocols.

The news will be welcomed by the trots industry, which has successfully continued racing through the year with only essential staff and racing personnel allowed to attend race meetings since March.

Clubs wishing to host patrons at race meetings will work with Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) to ensure their COVIDSafe Event Plan or COVIDSafe Event Checklist complies with the government’s updated public event framework. Those meetings will then be promoted on thetrots.com.au and club social media pages. Note that clubs must also develop a COVIDSafe Plan, which is mandatory for every Victorian business with on-site operations.

While initially the raceday experience will be different to what racegoers have enjoyed previously, clubs and HRV are committed to ensuring the best experience is delivered trackside in the interest of providing a COVIDSafe environment.

Some of the considerations will include attendance caps in line with government framework, maintaining records of attendance, limiting movement on-course, and maintaining separation between industry participants, staff, and the public.

HRV will continue to communicate directly with owners and participants with the latest information.

“It is pleasing to be in a position where clubs can now apply to host patrons once again after such a difficult period,” HRV CEO Dayle Brown said.

“We are appreciative and thankful to the industry, especially owners, for their patience. Undoubtedly, this has been a year of unprecedented difficulty, and harness racing has not been immune.

“It is only through the efforts of everyone that we have been able to pull together as an industry and continue racing safely, and I’m immensely proud of all in Victorian harness racing that have helped us navigate through 2020.

“We will remain vigilant and continue to observe strict protocols, but the recent trends have obviously been extremely heartening, and we’re pleased to be heading in the right direction.”

HRV will liaise directly with individual clubs and Trots Clubs Victoria (TCV) to help manage the process of crowds returning trackside for events.

A calendar of meetings and their availability to the public will be published on thetrots.com.au and club social media channels and websites in coming days and weeks.

 

Media enquiries: cwinnell@hrv.org.au