Racing Queensland has released the following statement in response to the Queensland Government’s decision to place several precincts with Greater Brisbane under a three-day lockdown.
The statement reads:
‘Racing Queensland has advised that meetings within South East Queensland during the Greater Brisbane lockdown period from March 29 to April 1, 2021 will proceed.
‘In conjunction with Queensland Health, race meetings within the lockdown area (Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan) will be conducted as patron-free events and are restricted to essential racing personnel working at the race meeting.
‘All essential racing personnel are entitled to attend race meetings throughout SEQ for the purposes of work during this period, but must comply with all other Queensland Health directions.
‘This includes wearing face masks at all times (excluding jockeys and drivers whilst racing). Jockeys and drivers are required to wear face masks at all other times in the racing areas.
‘Race meetings conducted outside of the Greater Brisbane area will proceed as scheduled with patrons able to attend.
‘In line with Queensland Health’s requirements, anyone who was in the Greater Brisbane area on or since March 20, 2021 should follow the same lockdown rules where they are now or when they leave the Greater Brisbane area.
‘This will apply to licensed racing participants who reside outside of the Greater Brisbane area and attend race meetings or trials within the Greater Brisbane area during the lockdown period.
‘They will be subject to the same lockdown rules as those who reside in Greater Brisbane area and will only be able to leave home for essential reasons and must comply with all other Queensland Health directions.
‘Temperature testing of ‘Essential Racing Personnel’ will also be re-introduced at all TAB meetings during this period.’
Earlier Racing NSW also issued a statement relating to the Brisbane lockdown:
‘Effective immediately (10:30am Monday, 29th March 2021) any person that was at the Eagle Farm race meeting on Saturday, 20th March 2021 and the Doomben race meeting on Saturday, 27th March 2021, or has been in the Greater Brisbane Area since 20th March 2021, must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises until further notice.’