Graeme McCulloch feels upset that millions of dollars could be squandered in the industry should the state not adopt measures staged elsewhere and return to racing.

Premier Peter Gutwein shut down thoroughbreds, harness and the greyhounds over concerns the spread of coronavirus was a risk for those attending the track from all parts of Tasmania amid their social interaction.

"They have panicked a bit - everywhere else in Australia is racing," McCulloch said.

"I really thought we'd be the last state to stop racing.

"If we are worried about the interaction between the North and the South, there is certain ways around it."

McCulloch wants to adopt a turf scheme when trainers in different cities take care of travelling horses in a reciprocal deal that is commonplace in Brisbane and Gold Coast.

The idea was agreed upon between hall-of-fame trainer Gary White and McCulloch.

"There doesn't need to be any people going backwards and forwards, but obviously they didn't look at any of the options," McCulloch said.

The one-time Caulfield Cup winning breeder from his Grenville Stud just outside Launceston, was critical of the assistance package.

McCulloch opposed conditions associated with the offer that includes a $700,000 loan to cover loss of stakes.

"They're paying out the stakes that would have been paid out, but what we got to remember is that Tasracing is losing about $1.4 million - that's my belief," he said.

"Whether I am right or wrong, that's quite a lot per month from not having any revenue coming in because no one can bet on our races."

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

McCulloch was concerned should the ban extend past 28 days the industry will have its backs against the walls.

"The government should be footing the bill because they are the ones who have stopped racing and that's going to leave us a shortfall down the track," he said.

"When we have no income coming in, that's going to cost racing very dearly down the track and we can't afford to have a setback like that.

"It's not as if we are racing for big stakes anyway.

"I do feel the government is giving us nothing - they said they were giving us a loan, but that's still not giving us anything because it has to be paid back. The money we are losing by not having racing is the money they could be giving Tasracing."

The ban was imposed on April 2 and McCulloch said all codes of racing needed to know whether it will be lifted.

Leading Tasmanian jockeys Craig Newitt and Scarlett So have already searched out rides back on the mainland.

"We need a bit more certainty because you can't have horses going straight away - you got to prepare and have them fit," McCulloch said.

"We need time to know all that and they can't come at the end of the month and say we're ready to start racing again.

"They have to give us a fair warning - a few weeks to let us know whether we are or not, so we can plan for it."

Subscriptions are available here.

Sign up to our Sport email here.