Harness racing to resume in Auckland

Racing will be held at both Cambridge and Auckland this week, following the Government’s Alert Level announcement.

Auckland will go to Alert Level Three at midnight tonight, allowing Friday’s meeting to go ahead, albeit under very strict conditions.

The meeting will be open to essential staff only, there will be no crowds or owners allowed on course. There will also be no food or drink available at this meeting.

Cambridge’s Thursday meeting will go ahead under Alert Level Two. Cambridge Raceway says it will host owners but will not be open to the public.

Because Auckland remains at a higher level drivers and trainers cannot cross boundaries to go from Auckland to Cambridge, and vice versa. Horses can be moved between Alert Levels with approved transporters only.

If your horse is travelling to a race meeting across differing Alert Levels then you need to arrange for someone to collect the horse from the transporter at the race meeting, look after your horse, gear it up, race it and return to the transporter after the race for its return home. Please ensure all gear is cleaned and disinfected at both ends of the journey before putting it onto the float.

The South Island remains at Alert Level 2 meaning Addington on Friday and Banks Peninsula on Sunday can go ahead. Both have decided that the general public will not be attending. At Addington only owners of horses racing at the meeting will be permitted to attend, while at Banks Peninsula owners as well as sponsors will be allowed.

At all meetings everyone must scan in, wear masks, social distance and hand sanitise as well as observe all the usual Covid protocols. Please remember to stay home if you are unwell. It’s recommended that anyone 65 and over should only go on course if they have been vaccinated.

As a result of the two northern meetings going ahead this week, Auckland Nominations and Acceptances have been held over until Wednesday morning.

HRNZ