Racing figures apparently were left waiting on Friday for a prompt response from state government after a bold submission that threatens to divide the industry.
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Tasracing struggled to gain full support in their proposal for zones to be based out of just Launceston and Hobart that could leave trainers in the North-West placed under unintentional scrutiny from the integrity of their rides.
The delicate nature over their coronavirus fears amid the submission has left the government to hold off for another week before ticking off the proposal put forward.
All that Australian Trainers Association Tasmanian branch president Nigel Schuuring wanted was just to ensure racing returns to the track immediately on May 15 after the 28-day ban that on Thursday was set to end but was extended last week.
Schuuring said the video conference with the Minister for Racing Jane Howlett had provided no answers but was still "looking positive".
Howlett only recognised the submission was seen by the Premier on Wednesday and will be taken seriously.
Schuuring said the meeting did not resolve much else and the length of the ban had been a strain on the welfare of people in the industry.
"It is hard, it is hard, but we have put a good submission to the government from Tasracing," Schuuring said.
"We're just hoping we will get that start date sooner rather than later. If it's coming either next week or the week after, we can be ready."
Schuuring did not want to reveal much of the submission other than new protocols are of "high standards".
Government had last week issued an order to the all of the codes in the industry that controls had to be tighter.
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But such restrictions will shut out some of Tasmania's leading thoroughbreds, harness and greyhounds.
"There are some rules that some trainers don't like with restrictions in the regions," Schuuring said.
"We want to get back racing and that's the most important thing and then we can work on getting restrictions being lifted after that.
"Restrictions are going to get lifted, but we hope they are lifted sooner than later."
Schurring was concerned Tasmanian trainers are losing their control regardless of the proposed zoning system.
That system appears to be working well in both New South Wales and Queensland, but neither state has a concentrated COVID-19 outbreak like the North-West that overwhelms a region.
So trainers are not only considering but being forced to ship their animals off to Victoria to race to make ends meet as each week drags on.
"There are people moving horses across the mainland," Schurring said.
"I've sent one over already and he ran second last week."
But the Whitemore trainer believes the proposal put forward that will ask either trainers in Launceston or Hobart to look after North-West animals is the only solution to ensure that the industry is back in business.
"It's very, very low risk and the protocols put in for the transport is for transporting all horses around anyway," Schurring said.
"We follow the protocols where there is a very low risk of spreading any virus.
"If everyone does the right thing, we should be alright."
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