The Echuca Racing Club began its season on Thursday in front of an empty racing club, and an expectation this would not change for some time.
Victorian shadow minister for racing Tim Bull said with restrictions allowing travel and some forms of sport across regional Victoria, crowds should be able to return to the racing track.
“It’s disappointing the Andrews Labor Government has announced community sport can be played and that up to 50 can attend an outdoor dining facility but still has no plan to get racing people back to the track,” he said.
“From this weekend, while people will grace bowling greens, tennis courts and golf courses, one of our state’s biggest sectors has been left hanging by a thread.
“We are heading into the prime racing season and country race clubs have some of their most profitable days coming up on the calendar.
“Horse owners are one of the backbones of our great industry and as a first step we should be looking at getting limited numbers of owners back on course, and club members as well.
“A stepped and staged approach is sensible, but the silence from the minister is sending the wrong signal at a time when we need to be leading our industry’s recovery.”
Echuca Racing Club general manager Garry Armstrong told the Riv earlier this week the racing industry was hoping for crowds to return in coming months.
“Unfortunately due to the COVID protocols, patrons will not be part of the day on Thursday,” he said.
“The messaging from Racing Victoria is telling us that this will most likely stay this way through all of October as well.”
Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula said conversations were ongoing.
“The roadmap for regional Victoria outlines that attendance for events such as race meetings will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
“We’re talking to racing authorities about how this will work and will have more to say in due course.”
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