Trainers, owners face disappointment despite racing restart

The Tasmanian racing industry was forced into hibernation while the rest of Australia went about its business. Now, it’s back but many thoroughbred trainers and owners will face disappointment.

TASMANIA’S racing industry will finally come out of its enforced 10-week hibernation this weekend — but many thoroughbred trainers and owners will face disappointment, given the high number of horses nominated for the meeting.

Only seven races have been programmed in Launceston on Sunday, with a capacity of 10 runners in each race — but there were 190 nominations for the meeting, comprising 138 individual horses.

Should trainers accept with every horse, half of those nominated will be left at home in their stables unless some races are divided.

Tasmanian racing was on a high when the government shut it down on Public Health advice on April 2, the morning after the Tasmanian Turf Club delivered an issue-free meeting at Mowbray when coronavirus restrictions were in play.

The news of the shutdown sent shockwaves throughout Australia because Tasmania was expected to be the least likely to stop racing, given the borders had already been closed in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The strict safety protocols will limit patronage and recovery, according to trainers.

Despite having adhered to strict safety protocols, the Tasmanian industry was forced into hibernation while the rest of Australia’s racing industry went about its business without a hitch.

Wesley Vale thoroughbred trainer Glenn Stevenson said the return to racing this Sunday was long overdue.

“It’s great to know we are going back to the office on Sunday, but how long it will take to recover from this shutdown won’t be known for some time,” Stevenson said.

“There are so many aspects of our business that have been affected by not racing, and the financial impact on all of us has been enormous, even with the subsidy we received after we were shut down.”

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“I’ll have at least one runner on Sunday, and then I’ll head to Hobart the following week.

“All trainers have experienced different sorts of feelings during the shutdown, but sheer frustration is the one thing we’ve all had in common.”

Harness racing also resumes on Sunday, with an expected seven-race meeting at Elwick, and the following night the first greyhound meeting back from hibernation will be held in Launceston.

During the shutdown, many Tasmanian trainers were forced to try their luck interstate but, overall, they were fruitless and costly exercises.

However, the state’s leading jockey Crag Newitt has enjoyed much success interstate. and he has extended his stay in Victoria by a month.