Racing Victoria (RV) wishes to advise of changes to the biosecurity protocols in place in Victoria to allow for the safe continuation of racing and training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protocols serve to protect the health of industry staff, participants and the wider Victorian community; maintain 25,000 full-time equivalent jobs; and ensure daily care and exercise can be afforded to all thoroughbred racehorses.
The following changes relate to new orders issued by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer on red and orange COVID zones within other states and territories.
Industry Protocols
The industry’s protocols around interstate travel are enhanced to provide an important layer of security for Victorian racing. They can be viewed by clicking here.
Any licensed or registered participant who has visited a red zone and arrives in Victoria will need clearance from RV Stewards before being permitted to attend any racecourse or licensed premises at the conclusion of their Government mandated 14-day home quarantine period.
Any licensed or registered participant who was in a green or orange zone that has since been determined to be red – but was not red when they were there and has not been retrospectively determined as red by the Victorian Government since they left – may be prohibited from attending a licensed premises for 14 days from their return.
This will depend on the circumstances (for example, whether they have attended any high-risk exposure sites and when and how long they were in the designated zone) and a decision will be made by the Stewards on a case by case basis in consultation with RV’s Chief Medical Officer.
Any licensed or registered participant who has visited an orange zone and arrives in Victoria, is not permitted to attend a racecourse or licensed premises until they provide RV Stewards with a negative result from a COVID test taken on day six in Victoria and receive a clearance from them to attend.
Western Australia (WA) - UPDATED
The Victorian Government has declared the following LGAs in WA a red zone with effect from 1.00am (AET) today, Wednesday, 30 June 2021:
- Perth Metropolitan Region
- Peel Region
Both of these WA LGAs were orange zones in the period from 1.00am (AET) on 28 June 2021 to 1.00am (AET) on 30 June 2021.
Any licensed or registered participant who is currently in or has visited a WA red or orange zone since 1.00am on 28 June 2021 is asked to contact RV immediately by calling the Stewards or emailing crisismanagement@racingvictoria.net.au.
Queensland - UPDATED
The Victorian Government has declared the following LGAs in Queensland a red zone with effect from 1.00am (AET) today, Wednesday, 30 June 2021:
- South-East Queensland – which includes the LGAs of Greater Brisbane (Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland) plus Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Noosa, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast
- Townsville (including Magnetic Island and Palm Island)
In addition, the Victorian Government has declared Greater Brisbane an orange zone retrospective to 22 June 2021.
Any licensed or registered participant who is currently in or has visited a Queensland red or orange zone since 22 June 2021 is asked to contact RV immediately by calling the Stewards or emailing crisismanagement@racingvictoria.net.au.
New South Wales (NSW) - UPDATED
The Victorian Government declared the following NSW areas as a red zone with effect from 1.00am (AET) on Friday, 25 June 2021:
- Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and Wollongong.
Within Greater Sydney, the NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) of City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick are red zones effective as of 1.00am (AET) on Wednesday, 23 June 2021.
All areas in Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour, and Wollongong have been declared an orange zone retrospectively between 11 June and the time they became a red zone.
The Victorian Government declared the following area in NSW an orange zone with effect from 1.00am (AET) on Sunday, 27 June 2021:
- All of regional NSW (except for communities in the border bubble)
Any licensed or registered participant who is currently in or has visited NSW (outside the border bubble) since 11 June 2021 is asked to contact RV immediately by calling the Stewards or emailing crisismanagement@racingvictoria.net.au.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The Victorian Government declared the following area in the ACT an orange zone with effect from 1.00am (AET) on Sunday, 27 June 2021:
Any licensed or registered participant who is currently in or has visited the ACT since 1.00am on 27 June 2021 is asked to contact RV immediately by calling the Stewards or emailing crisismanagement@racingvictoria.net.au.
Northern Territory (NT)
The Victorian Government declared the following area in Northern Territory a red zone with effect from 8.00pm (AET) on Sunday, 27 June 2021:
- Greater Darwin (including the LGAs of City of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield)
Any licensed or registered participant who is in or has visited a NT red zone since 8.00pm on 27 June 2021 is asked to contact RV immediately by calling the Stewards or emailing crisismanagement@racingvictoria.net.au.
Owner Attendance at Racecourses & Licensed Premises
In addition to compliance with all Government directives, an owner is not permitted to enter a Victorian racecourse or licensed premises in the 14-day period following their arrival in Victoria if they have:
- Visited a designated NSW red zone on or since 11 June 2021
- Visited a designated NT red zone on or since 27 June 2021
- Visited a designated Queensland red zone on or since 22 June 2021
- Visited a designated WA red zone on or since 28 June 2021
In addition to compliance with all Government directives, an owner is not permitted to enter a Victorian racecourse or licensed premises in the 7-day period following their arrival in Victoria if they have:
- Visited regional NSW (excluding the border communities) on or since 11 June 2021
- Visited ACT on or since 27 June 2021
Horse Transportation into Victoria
Transportation of horses to Victoria from NSW, ACT, WA, NT and Queensland remains permitted provided that the horses are transported by an approved float company that is permitted to do so under any Government directives.
Conclusion
RV is continuing closely to monitor the situation both interstate and within Victoria and will make changes to the industry’s biosecurity protocols as required to ensure the safe continuation of racing and training in Victoria.
Where changes are made further updates will be provided so please remain alert to further communications from RV and/or the Victorian Government.
All licensed participants and owners in Victoria are asked to follow all public health advice and to stay home and get tested if they, or anyone they live with, is unwell and displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.