RACING TURMOIL:
GOLD COAST JOCKEY CAUGHT UP IN VICTORIAN VIRUS SCARE
THE racing industry has moved a step closer to shutdown with today’s Toowoomba program among five meetings across the nation called off.
The move comes after Melbourne, Sydney and Perth had races abandoned mid-meeting yesterday following fears a participant had come into contact with the coronavirus.
Melbourne’s Sandown meeting was the first to go after it emerged a Victorian jockey had been on the same flight as a confirmed COVID-19 case on March 12.
The jockey was acting within the rules as set out at that time and in the 13 days since the flight, had not shown any symptoms of the virus.
Racing Victoria is awaiting the results to determine if racing can proceed.
Today’s Kilmore and Pakenham meetings have already been abandoned.
Soon after, Racing NSW stewards called a halt to the meeting at Warwick Farm yesterday because the jockey had ridden in Sydney recently.
Racing NSW then abandoned today’s Hawkesbury meeting.
Perth jockey William Pike rode at the same All-Star Mile meeting at Caulfield on March 14 as the hoop in question and as a result the Ascot meeting yesterday was called off.
Gold Coast jockey Ryan
Maloney also rode at the AllStar Mile meeting but the Eagle Farm meeting yesterday went ahead.
Maloney rode two winners at the Brisbane track.
QRIC and Racing Queensland decided last night to abandon today’s Toowoomba meeting.
“Whilst the (Victorian) participant is not currently displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, he recently shared a commercial flight on Thursday, March 12 which carried another passenger who has since tested positive to the virus and was subsequently contacted by health authorities,” a Racing Queensland statement said.
“Since that time, it has been confirmed that the participant has been in contact with a Queensland licensee, and as such, RQ has taken the safest option to minimise risk to the industry by agreeing to abandon (the Toowomba) meeting.
“In the circumstance that a negative test is returned by the interstate participant, thoroughbred racing in South East Queensland will continue as currently programmed including Friday’s meeting at Beaudesert.”
As more grim news hit the industry yesterday, it emerged the Brisbane Racing Club had put forward a proposal to Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Racing Queensland to quarantine every Eagle Farm participant in a bid to keep the industry afloat.
Eagle Farm trainers and jockeys were canvassed about the idea on Tuesday morning.
The proposal involved quarantining trainers, staff, jockeys and all essential race day staff in a “racing precinct’’ that included accommodation for a period of time.
It’s been described by the BRC as a self-funding plan, with costs to be covered by revenue from wagering should it enable racing to continue.
It would mean meetings at Eagle Farm and Doomben would be restricted to only those horses stabled within the Eagle Farm infield.
If implemented, it is suggested it could also be adopted at the training centres of the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
Hinchliffe said any decisions on what happens will be up to Racing Queensland.