Spectator numbers to increase at Victorian race meetings from Friday
Racing Victoria (RV) is pleased to advise that it has received official confirmation today that the maximum number of spectators permitted to attend Victorian race meetings under COVIDSafe protocols can increase from 500 to 1,000.
This will take effect for race meetings from this Friday, 11 December 2020 where a Club is seeking to welcome spectators having considered their ability to satisfy the necessary COVIDSafe requirements.
In the interests of providing a COVIDSafe environment, spectators must still be allocated a specific seat and will be unable to move around the racecourse, unless there is a specific reason, such as purchasing food.
Clubs will continue to enact their COVIDSafe plans to ensure that appropriate hygiene and physical distancing arrangements are in place and records are kept to enable contact tracing.
Attendees are still required to carry a face mask but are only required to use it when they are unable to meet safe distancing requirements indoors and outdoors.
To support the expansion in spectator limits, RV will continue to segregate the racecourse between spectators and racing participants with this requirement to be reviewed on a regular basis.
It will remain the decision of each Club as to how their spectator allocation is split, provided that a provision is made for a minimum number of owners commensurate with that entitled to attend over the past two months.
RV Chief Executive, Giles Thompson, said: “Following the absence of COVID-19 within Victoria for an extended period, we are delighted to welcome an increased number of spectators to our race meetings from this Friday.
“As previously communicated, it is up to each Racing Club to decide whether they wish to submit an application for spectators to attend having considered their ability to satisfy the necessary COVIDSafe requirements and/or undertake appropriate pre-promotion.
“Details on how to register or attend a race meeting will be published on the individual Club websites so I encourage all racegoers interested in attending an upcoming meeting to get in contact with the Clubs directly.
“As part of Victoria’s Public Events Framework, Clubs can make an application for more than 1,000 spectators, although we note that this is a more complex process that requires an extended period for the Government and health officials to review and make a determination.
“We note that some Clubs have submitted applications for more than 1,000 spectators for race meetings from 18 December onwards and, together with those Clubs, we are awaiting further advice from Government on the possibility of this occurring and when further steps can be taken.”