The resumption of racing in Tasmania is no longer provisional on Public Health approval and the first meetings can definitely go ahead as planned on Sunday, June 14.
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Racing Minister Jane Howlett made the announcement on Tuesday following the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions throughout the state.
Previously, the State Government's approval for racing to resume had been subject to a review and assessment by Public Health.
That proviso no longer applies.
Howlett said the government had been working closely and constructively with all three codes of the state's racing sector to ensure a safe pathway back to racing.
She said confirmation that racing would resume on June 14 would be welcomed by industry participants who could now "plan ahead with confidence and certainty".
"I thank the thousands of participants for their patience and constructive input into the detailed return-to-racing plan developed by Tasracing in consultation with industry leaders," she said.
"The plan contains a comprehensive set of controls for the resumption of each code, including strict limitations on the number of officials, trainers and handlers in each section of the track."
Anything can be done if you want to - the industry would organise itself.
- Jockeys' boss Kevin Ring
'RESUME EARLIER'
Tasmanian Jockeys Association general manager Kevin Ring said he believed the relaxation of restrictions should have cleared the way for racing to resume even earlier than Sunday week.
He suggested the first meeting could have been brought forward to this weekend or midweek next week.
However Tasracing chief executive Paul Eriksson said that would not have been fair or equitable to the trainers who had been targeting June 14 as the restart date and the logistics of organising a race meeting at such short notice ruled out the option.
Ring disagreed. "Anything can be done if you want to - the industry would organise itself," he said.
Thoroughbred racing will resume with a meeting at Mowbray while harness will restart its season - now extended until December 31 - in Hobart.
STAKES CHALLENGE
Racing will have been shutdown for 10-1/2 weeks by the time it resumes.
The industry will have lost 11 thoroughbred meetings, 20 harness meetings and 31 greyhound meetings and a total of almost 600 individual races.
The loss to the industry in betting revenue would, conservatively, exceed $3 million.
The stakemoney not paid out during the shutdown was used to fund the industry assistance package therefore is not there to replace this lost revenue.
So Tasracing now faces a massive challenge to live up to the cautious prediction it made a month ago that it would not have to reduce stakemoney.
SPREYTON IS BACK
Spreyton saw its first competitive gallops action for almost five months when 12 barrier trials were conducted on the synthetic track on Tuesday morning.
The fastest trial winner was veteran Spihro while Gone Girl was impressive winning another open-class trial by five lengths from stablemates Silzoar and Triple Strip.
TRIAL RESULTS
1- OPEN, 800m: Tycoon's Daughter (I Toker) 1, Braccenby (C Jordan) 2, Don Reggio (D Ganderton) 3. 1/2 hd, 2 len. 50.23.
2- OPEN, 800m: Spihro (I Luximon) 1, Little Pegg (C Jordan) 2, Key Factor (L Bingley) 3. len, 12 len. 48.64.
3- MDN, 800m: Moonlight Escapade (D Parish) 1, Rubyranger (T Doyle) 2, Crowned Tainui (C Jordan) 3. Nk, 3/4 len. 50.31.
4- MDN, 800m: Jackjack (M Ulucinar) 1, It's La Premiere (B Muhcu) 2, Revolution Queen (I Toker) 3. 1-3/4 len, 1/2 len. 49.83.
5- MDN, 800m: Labby Rock (Y Nishitani) 1, Tie One On (I Toker) 2, Royal Pippa (D Ganderton) 3. 1/2 len, 2 len. 50.71.
6- CL3, 800m: Rhyme Writer (C Jordan) 1, Maceyanna (B Muhcu) 2, Liberance (I Toker) 3. 3/4 len, 1-3/4 len. 49.98.
7- CL3, 800m: Limerick City (H McCarthy) 1, Gee Gees Bulldog (D Parish) 2, We Need A Star (C Jordan) 3. 3-1/2 len, nk. 48.8.
8- CL3, 800m: Final Crown (H McCarthy) 1, Strike Celebration (I Toker) 2, Honky Tonk Girl (B Muhcu) 3. 1-1/2 len, 1/2 len. 49.69.
9- OPEN, 800m: Gone Girl (I Toker) 1, Silzoar (I Luximon) 2, Triple Strip (B Muhcu) 3. 5 len, nk. 49.49.
10- MDN, 800m: Itsa (B Muhcu) 1, Golden Egg (I Luximon) 2, Sienna's Word (H McCarthy) 3. 1/2 len, 1-1/4 len. 50.33.
11- MDN, 800m: Sh'bourne Brandy (L Bingley) 1, Miss Bossey Belle (M Ulucinar) 2, Flannie (I Toker) 3. 1/2 hd, len. 50.31.
12- MDN, 800m: Jayemara (B Muhcu) 1, Tennessee Too (I Toker) 2, Toliara (C Jordan) 3. 1-1/2 len, 8 len. 50.2.
