WA Racing Update – 24 March 2020
Since 16 March 2020, Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) has implemented a range of precautionary measures to protect both the workforce and wellbeing of the State’s racing industry, as a result of the COVID-19 threat. Please see below the latest updates.
Jockey Segregation
RWWA has identified a group of jockeys who have volunteered to ride at only metropolitan and inner provincial race meetings, and will be segregated from all other jockeys at racecourses. This group will also remove themselves from trackwork at racecourses and training centres. This risk mitigation measure has been implemented so that in the event one of the jockeys is impacted directly or indirectly, not all jockeys will be required to isolate. This segregation of jockeys will commence on Saturday 28 March 2020.
Race Clubs
In a concerted effort to reduce the amount of travelling by industry participants, particularly in regional areas, the following race scheduling changes have been made. Please note that these changes are aimed to further protect the wellbeing of our industry participants whilst still provide sufficient racing opportunities for all classes of racing animals. RWWA is working closely with impacted race clubs in regards to these changes.
Thoroughbreds
- Provincial Race Meetings: to consolidate inner provincial racing and to ensure strict bio-security measures the following changes to race meetings will occur:
- Monday 13 April 2020 – York Racing Club transferred to Bunbury Turf Club
- Thursday 23 April 2020 – Narrogin Racing transferred to Bunbury Turf Club
- Thursday 21 May 2020 – Narrogin Racing transferred to Bunbury Turf Club
Race classes and prizemoney levels will be as per the originally scheduled meeting.
- Community Race Meetings: community race meetings heavily rely on volunteers and attendance from the general public. With restrictions currently in place by the Government on non-essential gatherings, it is no longer viable for community race clubs to run race meetings, and a decision has been made to cancel the following race meetings:
- Saturday 11 April 2020 – Dongara
- Saturday 2 May 2020 – Yalgoo
- Saturday 23 May 2020 – Leinster
- Saturday 30 May 2020 – Leonora
- North West Racing Season: to reduce the amount of travelling by industry participants, the following changes will occur:
- The start of the Carnarvon Race Club’s season will be deferred, with all May race meetings being transferred to the Geraldton Turf Club.
- The Pilbara season, including the Port Hedland Turf Club and the Nor-West Jockey Club (Roebourne), will be cancelled.
- The Broome Turf Club’s season will be cancelled.
- Additional races will be run for the class of horses usually accommodated at the above venues at provincial race clubs in the south of the state over winter.
- All associated race meetings scheduled to be run by community race clubs in the North West are also cancelled.
Harness
- Harness race meetings will be consolidated with all scheduled race meetings being transferred to Gloucester Park, Bunbury Trotting Club and the Pinjarra Harness Racing Club from Saturday 28 March 2020. Clubs impacted in the current season include Central Wheatbelt (Kellerberrin), Narrogin, Northam and Wagin. Training facilities will remain operating with the relevant adherence to bio-security and access guidelines.
- Changes to scheduled race meetings for this week include:
- Saturday 28 March 2020 – Narrogin Racing transferred to Bunbury Trotting Club
- Sunday 29 March 2020 – Central Wheatbelt Harness Racing Club (Kellerberrin) transferred to Pinjarra Harness Racing Club
- Further race meeting schedule changes will be provided by the RWWA racing office in the coming days.
Greyhounds
- Greyhound race meetings will be consolidated with all scheduled race meetings being transferred to Cannington and Mandurah. The Northam season will not commence as scheduled in April and Monday race meetings will now be run at Cannington.
- The newly introduced Sunday greyhound race meetings will alternate between Mandurah and Cannington.
We understand that these changes will disrupt many within the industry, but due to these uncertain times these are necessary measures that are aimed at enabling racing to continue in Western Australia.
For further information regarding on-course precautionary measures due to the current COVID-19 threat, please click here.