Racing Victoria says All-Star Mile will go ahead as planned but no spectators on course

The All-Star Mile meeting at Caulfield will proceed without fans, while a compromise has been reached to guarantee race favourite Alligator Blood will still run, as Racing Victoria responds to the coronavirus crisis.

A last-minute gesture from the Melbourne Racing Club was enough for Alligator Blood’s owner Allan Endresz to stop him scratching the superstar from the All-Star Mile.

On Friday afternoon a frustrated Endresz threatened to withdraw the $2.80 favourite when it became apparent there would be a lock-out at the meeting because of the Covid-19 crisis.

In response to the coronavirus fears, Racing Victoria and the MRC decided to ban spectators to keep in check the safety, health and wellbeing of the wider community.

Endresz was irate that his wife Joy could not watch the horse run and during the afternoon said he favoured scratching him.

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He said as she had terminal cancer she should have preference to go and watch Alligator Blood run.

Endresz met the other syndicate owners at 4.30pm and it was only an offer from the MRC to set aside a room for 80 people at the Glasshouse function room at the Caulfield Tabaret adjacent to the racetrack which swayed him to run the star.

The ‘Gator is running!! 🐊 🩸 Connections of Alligator Blood excited to confirm he is running in tomorrow’s @allstarmile. Watch him at your local, in your TAB App or with your feet up at home, just make sure you catch him in the $5 million race! 👌 pic.twitter.com/MkwShLBS9d

— TAB (@tabcomau) March 13, 2020

“Racing Victoria and the Melbourne Racing Club have given Joy a big lift with their offer of setting aside a room so she can be with family and friends,” Endresz said.

“It’s been a very tense afternoon. We’ve had meetings and a lockdown with the owners.”

MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said on SEN that they had reached out to Endresz with that offer.

“We’re lucky enough to have a pub on course with a function room so we offered that to Allan and his family and friends.”

A MRC spokesman said they made the difficult lock-out decision in the best interests of the wider community.

Allan Endresz (background) with wife Joy with grandchild Hunter.

“Our position has always been that we will follow advice from the relevant state and federal government agencies in relation to Coronavirus (covid-19),” the spokesman said.

“We have now been advised non-essential mass gatherings attended by more than 500 people should not proceed from Monday.

“In the interest of patron safety, in consultation with Racing Victoria, the MRC has taken the decision to take extra precaution and proceed with The All-Star Mile Race Day without spectators.”

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Friday night’s feature Alister Clark meeting at The Valley will also to proceed but with spectators.

“The Moonee Valley Racing Club, in consultation with Racing Victoria and following the Government announcement advising the imminent imposition of restrictions on the number of attendees at mass gatherings, have taken the decision to proceed with tonight’s race meeting with only racing participants and industry officials on course,” a spokesman said.

Alligator Blood owners Allan Endresz (centre), Robyn and Jeff Simpson celebrate after their star was successful on the Magic Millions Raceday.

The MVRC spokesman said although the official restriction of crowds does not take effect until Monday, the decision to proceed without members, owners and racegoers attending Friday night’s race meeting has been taken in light of the increased concern over the transmission of COVID-19.

The restriction is likely to remain in place for next Friday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes meeting.

Racing Victoria reached its decision following the cancellation of the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix.

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All-Star Mile favourite Alligator Blood.

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Originally published as Racing Victoria says All-Star Mile will go ahead as planned but no spectators on course