A significant payday is looming if Tasmanian racing can get through to Easter without falling victim to a coronavirus shutdown.
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Tasracing has programmed three race meetings for Good Friday (April 10) - gallops at Mowbray, harness in Hobart and greyhounds in Devonport.
With no other racing except in Western Australia, national betting turnover - and therefore returns to the industry - should be well above normal.
Tasmanian Turf Club chief executive Peter Scott said it would be a great opportunity to salvage something out of difficult times.
"With no spectators on course and staff being paid penalty rates, there will be no direct revenue benefit to the club," Scott said.
"But it will be chance for the industry to make a good dollar."
As the TTC prepares to host its second meeting under the coronavirus restrictions, Scott said that the financial impact on the club had been "fairly harsh."
"We have a fully sponsored meeting this week and had 200 guests booked in for dinner," he said.
TESTS COMING?
The small number of people permitted to attend Tasmanian race meetings may soon be temperature-tested at the gate.
Anyone with an elevated temperature would be turned away.
Peter Scott said he believed it was "on the drawing board" but doubted it would be in place for Wednesday night's meeting.
"It's certainly being talking about but I don't think it will start this week," Scott said.
As has been the case in all codes since the coronavirus restrictions were put in place, only participants with runners at the meeting, stewards, essential raceday staff and accredited media will be allowed into the track.
"There will be a kiosk in the stabling area and the owners and trainers' bar will be open but only for shelter and the use of toilets," Scott said.
TASSIE DEBUT
Apprentice Brandon Louis will make his Tasmanian debut with six rides at Mowbray.
His best chance looks to be the Cameron Thompson-trained Trojan Storm who returns from a spell in the Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1100m.
The six-year-old has missed a place only once in five starts for Thompson and won consecutive races at Spreyton in September.
Thompson has given the gelding two lead-up barrier trials and in the most recent he beat none other than Mystic Journey in Hobart on March 5.
Louis, who claims 2kg, is from Mauritius where he began his apprenticeship in 2015. He's had two stints riding in Perth.
