Locked gates to greyhound racing track thwart scheduled meeting

The state’s strict new coronavirus protocols forced a greyhound meeting to be abandoned after dogs and trainers were locked out of the track.

It was a quiet day at the Devonport Showground after Tuesday’s greyhound meeting was abandoned. Picture: SUPPLIED

A GREYHOUND meeting scheduled to be held in Devonport on Tuesday was abandoned when members of the North West Greyhound Racing Club arrived to find the gates of the Devonport Showground locked.

TasRacing has sought an exemption to hold race meets across Tasmania despite them not being deemed an essential service under the state’s strict new coronavirus protocols.

However, the permit has not yet come through.

Harness racing is due to be held at the showground this Friday but is unlikely to go ahead if the permit is not secured.

A spokeswoman from the show society said it was not her organisation’s decision to lock the gates at Devonport but was done under a directive from Tasmania Police.

“Greyhound and harness racing are not deemed an essential service and they need an exemption to go ahead. They have sought that but it has not been secured,” she said.

“Until that is produced, harness and greyhound racing at Devonport Showgrounds cannot go ahead under law.”

A Tasmania Police spokesman said: “Initial advice was provided to the Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society regarding use of the showgrounds for greyhound racing. This was based on the available information at the time and this advice has since been clarified.”

Premier Peter Gutwein said under Tasmania’s strict new coronavirus protocols, the general public was not allowed to attend race meetings – only trainers and the animals being raced.

Mr Gutwein also said there was a limit placed on the field.

“We fall in line with national guidelines,” he said.