Australian horseracing continues despite coronavirus shutdown
Flat racing in Victoria resumes behind closed doors after jockey Mark Zahra tests negative for Covid-19
Horseracing in Australia appears to be the last sport left standing after racing in Victoria resumed this week, albeit behind closed doors.
The country’s racing industry has promised to power on unless explicitly prohibited to do so by government health advice, despite lockdown restrictions being put in place.
Rules on mass gatherings, interstate border restrictions and recommendations against travel were all put in place this week by legislators, but horse and greyhound racing is able to continue due to animal care requirements, which cannot be shutdown.
Flat racing resumed in Victoria on Friday after Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra tested negative for Covid-19 despite taking a flight with a confirmed coronavirus patient 15 days prior.
He is expected to ride in Bendigo on Sunday.
Truly outstanding work by Australian racing administrators in being able to work with government to keep the sport going during COVID-19. They are managing it superbly so far across the states.
— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) March 27, 2020
Racing Victoria CEO Giles Thompson said: “We are acutely aware of the incredible hardship that many Australians are facing at this time through the loss of their jobs, which is why we are continuing to work so hard to protect the livelihoods of all those within Victorian racing who depend on it.”
The NRL, A-League and AFL have all been suspended indefinitely while the 2020 Olympics – scheduled to be held in Tokyo – has been rearranged for 2021.
“In announcing the resumption of racing, I want to assure the Victorian community that racing will continue to operate under strict biosecurity protocols and where required act decisively, as we did when suspending racing yesterday, should there be any risk to the health of our industry stakeholders and the wider community,” added Thompson.
All racing has gone ahead without trackside crowds having reduced the number of people on course to “essential” personnel, while social distancing rules are also in place.
Irish horseracing was abandoned over the weekend signalling the end of all UK racing fixtures until 19 April at the earliest.