Measures to protect industry

Racing Queensland to introduce regional restrictions

RACING: Racing Queensland will implement designated race regions across the state from next week in a bid to further quarantine the industry from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a raft of biosecurity measures already in place, including patron-free racing and a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for licensed participants, RQ will introduce measures from Sunday that will provide five key thoroughbred regions and four key greyhound regions as part of a multi-staged approach to health and safety.

As part of the decision, thoroughbred racing will be consolidated to 15 racetracks and jockeys will be permitted to race in one of the five designated regions.

Trainers and stable staff will be further restricted to one of eight zones

During this period, horses or greyhounds will not be permitted to be transferred between zones for the purpose of racing.

Furthermore, any horse or greyhound that is presently domiciled interstate and does not enter Queensland by 11.59pm on Sunday, March 29, will not be allocated a region and will no longer be able to race until further notice.

Horses or greyhounds will be permitted to be transferred across regions for non-racing purposes such as agistment or rehoming.

The thoroughbred regions are Metro North (Brisbane and Sunshine Coast), Metro South West (Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba), Darling Downs and SEQ Coast, Central West and Central and North West and North.

“The health and safety of our participants, who are presently confronting a challenge like no other is our paramount concern,” RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said.

“We must do everything within our powers to provide for the 40,000 Queenslanders who participate across the state.

“These are their livelihoods that are at stake.

“By introducing a regional racing model, we are able to further support the Queensland Government’s direction to stay local, reduce non-essential travel and to limit the spread of this insidious virus.

In order to implement the regional racing model, RQ will be forced to abandon Sunday’s programmed thoroughbred meetings at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club and the Nanango Race Club.

Thoroughbred racing will recommence at the Mackay Turf Club on Tuesday, March 31 and will be restricted to Central Coast participants.