The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards remind the industry of the current protocols in place in relation to COVID-19. 

The HRV Stewards advise all participants and stakeholders that the following requirements must be adhered to at all Victorian race and trial meetings effective from 10 November 2021:

 

Entry to Racecourse

  • Only licensed persons and officials are permitted to enter the stabling area or other area designated for licensed persons when conducting licensed activities or official duties essential for the conduct of a race meeting.
  • All licensed persons and officials must check in via the Service Victoria QR code, and stablehands must also check in the HRV QR code, prior to entering the racecourse.
  • Licensed persons and officials may only enter the racecourse and stabling area when they comply with the relevant Victorian Government vaccination requirements applicable at that time. For the current requirements please refer to the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions here.
  • Children of licensed persons are strictly not permitted in the stabling area or any other area designated for licensed persons at a racecourse.

 

Participant and Public Separation Requirements

  • Licensed persons and officials, whilst on course for the purposes of conducting licensed activities or official duties, are not permitted to enter any area designated for the public.
  • Registered owners who enter the area designated for the public must not enter the stabling area or any other area designated for licensed persons.

 

Face Mask Requirements

  • All licensed persons and officials must wear a properly fitted face mask at all times when indoors (including drivers’ rooms, stewards’ rooms and veterinary room and covered horse stalls such as Tabcorp Park Melton, Ballarat, Shepparton etc.), unless you have a government permitted exemption (i.e., medical condition).
  • All persons are required to wear a properly fitted face mask outdoors when directed by a club official or HRV steward and when they are unable to maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres from other persons.

 

Social Distancing Requirements

  • All persons are reminded to exercise appropriate physical distancing protocols and to maintain 1.5-metre distancing wherever possible.
  • Trainers, drivers and stablehands must leave the race meeting as soon as possible upon fulfilling their obligations in accordance with the Australian Harness Racing Rules (i.e., after completion of swabbing procedures, attendance before stewards etc.).

 

Non-Compliance

  • All persons are advised that should they fail to comply with any of these requirements, significant penalties, including periods of disqualification, may be imposed under AHRR 238.

AHRR 238 states: A person shall not fail to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the Controlling Body or the Stewards relating to harness racing or to the harness racing industry.

 

These measures have been put in place to ensure that harness racing complies with all bio-security requirements and must be adhered to ensure that harness racing in Victoria continues under the current State Government restrictions.