Thoroughbred Racing NT has warned the entire industry is under threat ‘for many years to come’ if there is a prolonged shutdown
THOROUGHBRED Racing NT has warned the entire $122 million industry is under threat “for many years to come”.
Northern Territory
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THOROUGHBRED Raicng NT has warned the entire industry is under threat “for many years to come”.
In a letter to participants, obtained by the NT News, chairman Brett Dixon said “...our biggest concern is any prolonged shutdown could see the demise of our industry for many years to come”.
A recent report said the industry was worth $122.2 million to the NT economy and provided 991 full time equivalent jobs.
“If we work together, we have an opportunity to save our industry in the event of a prolonged shutdown of racing that could happen anytime soon.”
In response to a potential shutdown, TRNT has proposed a full quarantined racing centre in Darwin — at Fannie Bay racecourse — which “would protect both the industry and the community from this wretched virus and allow us to continue racing for the foreseeable future.”
Mr Dixon writes: “However, this plan cannot possibly succeed without the total support and cooperation of the NT racing industry ...”
The proposed plan contains a series of dot points including stating families are able to be house in the quarantine area, however, “once you are in you will not be permitted to leave the area, or if you do, you will not be able to return.”
It states horses in Alice Springs would need to relocate to Darwin to protect the industry if the shutdown occurs.
“A bare minimum of 180 horses will be required to ensure racing of an acceptable quality can continue,” the letter states.
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There are now about 110 horses in training in Darwin.
It says if the Darwin Cup Carnival does continue, it “will be a reduced programme with reduced stakemoney in the majot events”.
“Accommodation dongas, showers and toilets will be supplied free of charge for those who buy into the quarantine initiative and are housed in the area,” the letter states.
Meals would be provided free and there would be 24 hour security.
Temperature checks would occur on everyone inside the quarantine centre on a daily basis.
THE PLAN
The following dot points are an outline of the proposed plan there will obviously be plenty of questions arising out of the following and you are invited to ask any questions that come to mind, and we will endeavour to provide an answer:
•If/when racing joins all other sports in this country and is suspended for whatever period, the Fannie Bay Racecourse/Training Centre to be a total quarantined area.
•The quarantined area will include from the Douglas Street training facility automatic gates to the entire stable area (including the visiting trainers’ stables) and encompass the entire racing surface and centrefield, mounting yard, tie-up stalls and stewards’/jockeys’ rooms.
•There will be areas that will sit outside the quarantined area, such as the stewards’ towers at the 1600m, 1300m, 600m and 350m marks (to allow stewards and camera staff to access these important areas on raceday), the Ted Bailey Grandstand, and other areas yet to be determined.
•No-one will be allowed in or out of the quarantined area at any time for as long as it remains in place.
•Darwin has the facilities to house 250 horses plus, and the lockable fences/gates already in place create an area able to be managed within the federal guidelines already in place.
•Given the set-up of Pioneer Park Racecourse and training centre -with thetwo areas of stabling, etc - it would not be possible to set up a quarantined area, unlike in Darwin.
•All Darwin trainers, their staff, jockeys, trackwork riders and the like will be asked whether they wish to be part of the quarantine plan - if they take up this option, they will be required to remain in the FB Racecourse/Training Centre until further notice.
•Obviously, this will not be an option for a number of people who have other jobs, commitments, family, etc, and should this be you, you will have the opportunity (should you
be a trainer) to transfer your horse(s) to trainers who do decide to stay in the quarantined area.
•Should this be the case, transfer fees ($110 per transfer) will be waived.
•Families are able to be housed in the quarantined area, however, once you are in you will not be permitted to leave the area, or if you do, you will not be able to return. This is especially prevalent for people with young children.
•Horse numbers are a critical part of the plan, and in order to continue racing in the NT (hopefully following the AS Cup Carnival or sooner should the Government place the country or some states in lockdown), a bare minimum of 180 horses will be required to ensure racing of an acceptable quality can continue.
•The programme following the AS Cup Carnival in Darwin will be amended to suit the horse population that exists in Darwin, but it is fair to say that the Darwin Cup Carnival, should it be run, will be a reduced programme with reduced stakemoney in the major events, and including altered distances. This amended programme will be put in place, in conjunction with the industry, in the near future.
•At present, there are about 110 horses in training in Darwin, so it is envisaged that AS trained horses, in the first instance, will be needed to bolster the Darwin numbers. Interstate horses could also be considered going forward should they be required or apply, and meet the strict travel and isolation criteria that will be non-negotiable.
•To facilitate the addition of horses to the quarantined area, AS trainers will be invited to relocate their horses to Darwin, and ideally these would be placed with Darwin trainers. This will create some logistical issues but we believe these can be achieved.
•Racing in AS to be suspended following the AS Cup Carnival (pending its completion). The monies saved by not racing in AS will be directed towards keeping racing viable for all participants and the clubs for as long as required.
•Should AS trainers not wish to send their horses to Darwin-based trainers, they may still be able to attend but would need to isolate outside the quarantined area for 14 days before being admitted - it may be that a negative test to COVID-19 is also required prior to admittance. This goes for AS-based jockeys and stable staff.
•Attractive bonuses for AS trainers, whose horses win or are placed in Darwin under the care of Darwin trainers, will also be on offer-the extent of these bonuses are still being worked out but it goes without saying that they will be worth the trouble of relocating horses to other trainers.
•Float subsidies for horses travelling to the quarantined centre will be provided.
•Horses arriving into the quarantined centre will be co11ected at the main gate by staff from the stable to which they are entering. That stables’ gear (head collar and lead) must be used.
•Similarly, if a horse needs to leave the centre, it will be collected at the main gate by such person who has the authority to take the horse and place it off-site (spelling, specialised veterinary care, etc).
•Feed merchant deliveries will have to be collected at the main gate - the OTC staff within the quarantined area will assist by utilising a forklift to transport the feed to the applicable stable.
•Other people that are likely to be in the quarantined area will be OTC facilities and operations staff (in order that the track and pool, etc, can be utilised and maintained for racing and training), a TRNT steward, farrier, etc. It may be that trainers will be needed to act as barrier attendants on raceday.
•There will be a special isolated place in the quarantined area where a veterinary surgeon, approved to enter the quarantined site, can attend to any horse that requires veterinary care.
•Accommodation dongas, showers and toilets will be supplied free of charge for those who buy into the quarantine initiative and are housed in this area. These will be placed either in the existing caravan park area or in close proximity, if possible, to the individual stables.
•Meals will be provided each day to those in the quarantined area free of charge.
•Security will be placed on the quarantined area 24 hours a day.
•Temperature checks will be conducted on everyone in the quarantined area on a daily basis.
•Existing social distancing regulations will remain in place within the quarantined area.
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