Last updated 25 July 2022

The Racing and Wagering Western Australia Board has repealed the local rule of racing which requires COVID-19 vaccination for racing participants.

The rule, which has been in place since 5 February 2022, has been vital in safeguarding the operation of racing through the pandemic but is no longer required.

Licences for racing participants which have been cancelled or suspended due to non-compliance with the vaccination rule will be reinstated as soon as practicable.

RWWA reviewed the vaccination rule following the WA Government’s announcement that from 10 June 2022, proof of triple vaccination will only be required for those working with the most vulnerable, to protect them from severe disease.

The rate of full vaccination in the racing sector is extremely high. This is consistent with the general community and an important consideration for risk assessments relating to racing.

RWWA consistently evaluates rules and safeguards to ensure they remain appropriate.

Safety controls will continue, including Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) of drivers, stewards, jockeys and other race day staff whose roles are critical to the proper conduct of racing.

These have been demonstrated to adequately manage the risks to both individual health and continuation of racing.

RWWA will continue to manage the risks of COVID-19 proportionally and responsibly, in line with health directions.

As always, we will be guided by the WA Government in maintaining suitable control measures and we encourage everyone to stay up to date with the latest advice at wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus.

For any further enquiries please contact licreginfo@rwwa.com.au or (08) 9445 5558.

Further Information

Further information regarding the rule can be found here:

• Local Rule of Racing

Last updated 25 July 2022

The WA Government is easing public health rules for masks, capacity limits and proof of vaccination from June 10.

The below public health and social measures are relevant to the WA racing sector from 12.01am June 10:

Capacity limits

• Two-square-metre rule and capacity limits removed for race clubs.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

• No longer required for entry to racecourses, including industry participants.
• The WA Rule of Racing requiring industry participants to be vaccinated has been repealed. Proof of vaccination is not required for access to the venue, however, Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) will continue for drivers, stewards, jockeys and other race day staff whose roles are critical to the proper conduct of racing.
• Mandatory workplace vaccination requirements have been removed for race club staff.

Masks

• No longer mandatory.
• Masks are encouraged where physical distancing is not possible.

Close contacts

• Close contacts with no symptoms are not required to isolate for seven days but must:
  • undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test
  • wear a mask when leaving the house
  • avoid non-essential gatherings and contact with people at risk of severe illness.
• They should also notify stewards of their close contact status.
• Close contacts with symptoms must continue to isolate until symptoms resolve and get tested as per existing protocols.
• If a close contact tests positive, they must isolate for a further seven days as per arrangements for positive COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 safety and event plans

• No longer mandatory but still encouraged.

As always, we encourage everyone to keep up to date with the WA Government advice at wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus.

To protect the health and wellbeing of racing participants, RWWA has secured a strong supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for jockeys and apprentices, with mandatory testing now in place.

To be eligible to ride at race meetings, jockeys and apprentices must return a negative test, supervised by RWWA at one of the testing locations detailed below, within a two-day period prior to a scheduled race meeting. For example, to ride on a Sunday the test needs to be undertaken on or after Friday morning.

RAT’s will be supplied by RWWA, at no cost to the rider. Initial supplies of RAT’s are nasal swabs and will be self-administered.

Testing will be available between 5am and 9am at trackwork at Ascot Racecourse and Lark Hill on the following days: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. 

Additional testing will be made available as required when race meetings are conducted on a Monday or Tuesday.

The new protocol aims to ensure riders are routinely screened for COVID-19 twice per week, and therefore safeguarding the health of racing participants, and the continuation of racing in WA.

Please note it is the responsibility of all riders to ensure they undertake a RWWA supervised test in the two days prior to riding at a race meeting.  Any rider who has failed to undertake the RAT in accordance with the new protocol, must contact RWWA Stewards for advice prior to travelling to a race meeting. Under no circumstance can a rider enter a jockeys’ room without having followed such protocol.

Further controls will also be introduced at race clubs to limit persons entering the jockeys’ room during a race meeting.

Any rider exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive to COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact of a positive case, are not to attend any race meeting or training facility, and must follow State Government advice for testing and isolation.

Further information about the State Government’s testing and isolation guidelines can be found here.

Updated 25 July 2022

Further information regarding the WA Government’s latest updates on COVID-19 can be found at www.wa.gov.au

Last updated 25 March 2022

It is understood that these are uncertain times for many individuals and therefore please be reminded that RWWA’s Racing Assist provides free confidential support through counselling to any licenced participant, whether it be due to racing-related or personal issues. For more information, click here.