Racing NSW today has announced the introduction of phase one of the easing of restrictions permitting horses to travel from Victoria into NSW, consistent with the advice it has received from its biosecurity expert that it is appropriate to review its position given the reduction in the amount of daily new cases in Victoria and the stabilisation of the infection rate.
Phase one will allow horses not currently located in the Melbourne Greater Metropolitan Area still subject to Stage 4 restrictions, to be transported into NSW, subject to the Racing NSW Policy for the Transportation of Horses from Victoria.
The requirements of the policy include
- Cleansing of transport vehicles prior to travelling into NSW;
- Use of one transport driver;
- Application being made to and approval provided by Racing NSW Stewards prior to transportation;
- Horses to be transported to a spelling property or pre-training property that is not located on a NSW racecourse and horses must not be transported directly to a NSW racecourse or licensed stables and must remain on the spelling property or pre-training property for a minimum of 48 hours prior to being transported to a racecourse of licensed stable;
- All personnel undertake social distancing when loading and unloading horses;
- Ensuring all gear used to transport the horses to be returned to the transport vehicle once the horse has been unloaded;
- Declaration of person at NSW property that receives horses confirming compliance with Racing NSW Policy for the Transportation of Horses from Victoria.
The full policy, including the application and declaration forms, can be obtained at www.racingnsw.com.au
Racing NSW will continue to monitor the number of reported cases in Victoria to ascertain when it is appropriate to introduce phase two of the policy which will allow horses located in other regions of Victoria to travel to NSW. Further announcements will be released when this decision is made.
