Warrnambool carnival to be run over two days in change to beat COVID-19 threat
The famous Warrnambool carnival is set to be run next month, but with significant changes to its usual schedule due to COVID-19. Here’s what racing fans can expect.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The iconic Grand Annual Steeplechase will headline the busiest jumps program in Australian racing history after the revered Warrnambool May carnival was condensed from three days to two because of coronavirus.
Racing Victoria and Warrnambool Racing Club officials indicated there could be up to eight races on an all-jumps program on May 5, surpassing Ballarat’s staging of the Grand National meeting which typically stages six jumps contests.
Moving to ensure the survival of Australia’s biggest country carnival while also protecting participants against COVID-19, Warrnambool Racing Club slashed its program from 28 races over three days to 17 races over two.
Watch sport on Kayo. Anywhere. Anytime. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
But the carnival will feature more jumping than usual, with up to eight contests (up from six) over obstacles, including the Grand Annual and Brierly Steeplechases and the historic Galleywood Hurdle.
The all-jumps day will be followed on May 6 with a nine-race flat program highlighted by the Warrnambool Cup and Wangoom Handicap.
Racing Victoria’s executive general manager racing, Greg Carpenter, said the carnival had to be re-imagined to provide a program that minimised risk while reducing community interaction and the number of essential staff needed to deliver the event.
“In consultation with the Warrnambool Racing Club, Country Racing Victoria and the Australian Jumping Racing Association, we have determined that a two-day May Carnival with one meeting exclusive to jumps racing and the other to flat racing is the safest format to ensure that we can still conduct Warrnambool’s iconic races,” Carpenter said.
“The revamped program assists with the logistics of conducting the event, allows us to segregate our jumps and flat jockeys, and significantly reduces the number of participants that need to stay in Warrnambool, which is again unfortunate for local businesses, but a responsible measure for the industry to take.”
MORE NEWS
Cox Plate 2020 hinges on June 1 milestone
Last Friday, Warrnambool held a meeting consisting of jumps races and flat contests.
The first three races were jumps event but then the meeting was delayed by 80 minutes so that the jockeys’ rooms could be prepared for the flat riders.
The decision to reduce the May carnival to two days frees up the May 7 Thursday timeslot.
RV said another club would inherit the meeting with a new program yet to be announced.
WRC CEO Tom O’Connor said: “The WRC’s focus has been on supporting the Victorian racing industry and its efforts to safely continue racing under new protocols.