Zoning in on reality

WINTER carnivals for the three codes of racing have been abandoned as Racing Queensland looks to build a war chest for what it expects will be torrid times for the industry in coming months.

Racing Queensland has moved to extend racing’s lifeline during the COVID-19 crisis by dividing the state into five different regions, where horses, trainers and jockeys must stay and race in just one of those areas.

By cancelling the winter carnival, Racing Queensland hopes it can set aside up to $9 million as part of a hardship and sustainability fund – provided racing can continue.

It comes after Racing Queensland rejected a proposal by the Brisbane Racing Club to quarantine Eagle

Farm participants and horses.

“This is the most responsible way to support the whole industry,” Racing Queensland boss Brendan Parnell said. “It’s the right call to abandon the carnival.

“We will redirect the prizemoney towards sustaining the industry.”

The Brisbane Racing Club will take a $3 million hit by missing out on its five days of Group 1 racing in May and June, while the Gold Coast

Turf Club has already cancelled $600,000 in bookings.

Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell noted feature racing was lost to the club in the 1942-45 war years, so it’s not unprecedented to lose a carnival, but COVID-19 was placing enormous financial pressure on the club.

“We understand the seriousness of this situation. And we’re not in this situation alone,” Bell said.

“We face tough decisions as we review our immediate operational costs in these coming months.”

If racing is permitted to continue, the state’s 100-plus racetracks will be diminished to just 15 for at least the next two months.

The six major racetracks in southeast Queensland will make up two of the zones.

It is understood racing has support from the Prime Minister’s office but the message is that it needs to tighten restrictions if it is to continue during the nation’s lockdown and the Racing Queensland zoning move is designed to appease those concerns.

“By taking this measure, it gives our participants a possible opportunity to race,” Parnell said.

“The impact to racing of a shutdown would be disastrous and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Queensland participants will need hardship support.”