Thoroughbred Racing is set to return to Mowbray on Sunday the 13th of June 2020. But the grandstands are set to remain empty for now, besides a small group of people in the dining area. And this limiting of the amount of people at the barriers is being given as the reason for the reduced field sizes.
Tasracing will analyse the 10-horse field limit that affects both Harness and Thoroughbred Races as soon as the industry is back in the swing of things. This lessened limit naturally increases the number of ballots, which were high for both codes this weekend anyway, but Paul Eriksson says it must be done. The Tasracing Chief Executive Officer has explained that it helps meet the novel coronavirus COVID-19 requirements.
In answer to concerns expressed by Kevin Ring, General Manager of the Tasmanian Jockeys’ Association, Eriksson stated that the ruling curbing gatherings of people to no more than 20 makes the barriers a challenge. He said that this is simply the way things are for now, though, and a proper review will be done when everything is operating normally again.
Ring was not impressed however, saying that Sunday’s heavy nominations have simply underlined how important revoking the 10-horse limit and returning to the pre-lockdown field sizes is. He stated that the fact that racecourses are not being documented as workplaces is causing havoc.
Racing stands as one of the first professional sports to reopen its gates to the public with the Launceston Mowbray Thoroughbred Meeting.
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