Corona Virus Update (COVID-19) - CONTINUATION OF HARNESS RACING IN NSW

Harness Racing NSW through consultation with key industry stakeholders has finalised plans which will enable race meetings to be held in compliance with Government edits.

From today (Monday) and until further notice NSW race meetings and affiliated harness racing events will be conducted with less than 500 persons in attendance.

To satisfactorily comply without risk of exceeding the mandatory number of attendees only persons considered essential to the conduct of a race meeting or an affiliated event will be permitted entry onto race tracks or properties.

The criteria set by HRNSW as essential persons is:

• Trainers, drivers, stable hands, HRNSW officials, operational staff, clerks of course, contractors for vision broadcast, race callers and paramedical services.
• Food and non-alcoholic beverage providers are also considered essential as are horse gear suppliers.
• Committee persons and Club administrators and others who have a role to play at a race meeting are also considered essential if approved.

Unfortunately Owners, members of the general public and wagering operators don’t meet the criteria of essential persons and thus this aspect will need to be accepted if racing is to continue unaffected and controlled by the industry and not by other agencies.

The role of the Clubs or affiliated Associations in this exercise will be to administer strict compliance to the entry to the race track of only those essential persons according to the HRNSW criteria.

Control of track and property access in paramount to compliance and therefore Clubs and affiliated Associations will be required to follow a procedure which is both practical and manageable as follows:

• Clubs will be requested to provide a single access point only to the track/property.
• Clubs are to provide HRNSW with an operational plan for the access point. This must include the lists of all persons (other than participants) who have an essential duty in the operation of the race meeting.
• The use of a private security guard or responsible/diligent Club person at the access point.

Licensees will also be required to assist with the access procedure as follows:

• Licensees on request are to display at the access check point their licence (trainer, driver, stable hand) and in the case of stable hands they should travel with the horse. Whilst is expected that trainers and stablehands travel with the horses they are attending at the race meeting if this is not the case prior contact must be made to the Club Secretary who will notify the HRNSW Stewards.

The Board Members and Executive Management of HRNSW appreciates the acceptance of these measures and procedures by all participants in the harness racing industry.

For further information contact the HRNSW Industry Development Manager Shaun Snudden on 97226600 or the HRNSW Integrity Divsion.