Snap Covid lockdown won’t halt South Australian racing

Racing in South Australia has been given the go-ahead to resume throughout the state’s snap seven-day Covid lockdown.

Racing SA had made the decision to postpone Wednesday’s meeting at Gawler yesterday as it continued to lobby the State Government to allow the sport to continue while the state endures tough new restrictions.

A statement from Racing SA has confirmed the industry was given the green light to continue late on Tuesday evening.

“I am pleased to advise that the COVID-19 Directions released at 11:18pm last night include essential racing participants as authorised workers,” Racing SA chief executive Nick Redin said in the statement.

“Under the Directions, racing and training will be able to continue with essential persons only permitted to attend these activities with additional protocols in place.

“Unfortunately, this means that Owners are not permitted to attend race meetings or training unless they are actively engaged and have the appropriate license in place.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the State Government, the State Coordinator and SA Health for permitting racing to continue, as it has in all other mainland States, during this period.

“It is extremely important from an equine welfare perspective that horses in work can continue to be exercised.”

Nick Redin CEO Racing SA. Photo: Racing SASource:Supplied

Acceptances for Saturday’s nine-race card at Morphettville were released on Wednesday morning and the meeting is set to go ahead as planned.

The meeting will take place without a crowd in attendance while essential personnel are required to wear masks and return home to isolate in line with level five restrictions after working.

Wednesday’s postponed meeting will now be run on Thursday, July 29.

SA’s state premiership leading trainer Tony McEvoy expects the sport will be able to continue to operate under the new restrictions, as has been the case in other states.

“Racing has done an excellent job continuing to operate throughout Covid and I see no reason why it couldn’t continue here,” McEvoy, who trains with his son Calvin, said.

“They’ve continued to race in Victoria and NSW recently and I expect it should be the same in South Australia.”

McEvoy said it would be ‘business as usual’ at his Kildalton Park base while staff adhered to strict health and safety protocols introduced by the Government.

Originally published asSA Racing gets green light to continue

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