IMPORTANT INFORMATION – NSW PARTICIPANTS (RACING NSW ROAD MAP)
Updated Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Racing NSW has conducted a review of its COVID-19 policies having regard to the current situation in NSW and has made the following amendments to its COVID-19 policy:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – NSW PARTICIPANTS
RACING NSW ROAD MAP
UPDATED 24 November 2021
Racing NSW has conducted a review of its COVID-19 policies having regard to the current situation in NSW and has made the following amendments to its COVID-19 policy.
JOCKEYS
• Jockey zones were removed on 4 November 2021 allowing jockeys to ride at any race meeting within NSW.
• All jockeys and apprentices may ride trackwork and barrier trials.
• Apprentice jockeys may undertake stable duties.
• Jockeys who are fully vaccinated and ride in the Greater Sydney Area are no longer required to obtain a PCR test.
Rapid testing at race meetings will cease on 1 December 2021.
• Jockeys not fully vaccinated that live in Greater Sydney who are attending race meetings in regional NSW will need to continue to obtain a twice weekly PCR test and provide the negative results to the Stewards.
• Effective 1 December 2021, Jockeys’ rooms densities will be reduced from one person per 4 square metres to one person per 2 square metres, and segregation in separate rooms not required if the jockeys’ room complies with the 2 square metre density limits.
FACE MASKS (Essential Personnel)
The wearing of N95 face masks is only mandatory when indoors on a racecourse or licensed premises. (Working in stables is not considered to be indoors).
PCR & RAPID COVID-19 TESTING
Fully Vaccinated – Effective 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated Essential Personnel who attend Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm, Kembla Grange and Newcastle racecourses will no longer be required to undertake a weekly PCR or RAPID COVID-19 test.
Not Fully Vaccinated – Any Essential Personnel who are not fully vaccinated that attend Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm, Kembla Grange and Newcastle racecourses will be required to continue to undertake a weekly PCR COVID-19 test. Rapid testing will not longer be required.
REGIONAL TRAVEL – PCR TESTING
Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel who reside in Greater Sydney and who are fully vaccinated do not require a PCR COVID-19 test to travel from Greater Sydney to regional race meetings.
Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel who reside outside Greater Sydney and who are fully vaccinated do not required a PCR COVID-19 test when returning to their regional base after attending the Greater Sydney Area.
Not Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel who reside in Greater Sydney and who are not fully vaccinated must continue to have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result within the last 7 days to travel from Greater Sydney to regional race meetings.
Not Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel who reside outside Greater Sydney and who are not fully vaccinated must continue to obtain a negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to attending a racecourse or licensed premises when returning to their regional base after attending the Greater Sydney Area.
With the removal of Rapid and PCR testing, Essential Personnel are reminded of the importance that they must continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. If they have symptoms, they must obtain a COVID-19 PCR test and self isolate (including not attending a racecourse or licensed premises) until they receive a negative result. Any Essential
Personnel who display COVID-19 symptoms and obtain a COVID-19 PCR test must advise
Racing NSW Stewards of same and provide the results of the negative COVID-19 test to
Racing NSW Stewards prior to attending a NSW racecourse or licensed premises.
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS
Racing NSW requires all participants to continue to comply with Racing NSW policies and
protocols and all NSW Health Orders detail below.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx
Not Fully Vaccinated – NSW Government restrictions – Essential Personnel throughout
NSW who are not fully vaccinated are also reminded that, under the NSW Government
Public Health Orders, they are not permitted to:
• Attend a large number of premises including hospitality venues (restaurants, cafes, pubs) other than to collect takeaway, gyms, spas, entertainment facilities (cinemas, theatres, music and concert halls), nightclubs, public swimming pools, hairdressers, tattoo parlours, massage parlours, recreation facilities (indoors), retail premises (other than critical retail premises), auction houses, betting agencies;
• Visit other households or have visitors at their home (this includes not visiting family members who are not household members or having them visit);
• Take a holiday or undertake recreation outside the Local Government Area where they reside;
• Except for the purposes of work, travel in a vehicle with a person other than a household member.
RACE MEETINGS AND RACE CLUBS
Crowds are restricted to 1 person per 2 square metres, who must adhere to mandatory mask wearing for indoor spaces and all other NSW Government Public Heath Order requirements.
For large scale race meetings of metropolitan status race clubs will need to ensure all persons, including Essential Personnel attending, are fully vaccinated.
Race clubs are required by Racing NSW to put in place a COVID-19 Safety Plan which includes clear separation between restricted jockeys/official’s zones and other attendees at the race meeting. The separation of Essential Personnel (other than jockeys/officials zone) is no longer required. Racing NSW will review its policies in respect to jockey/official zones on 15 December 2021.
Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel and Owners/Patrons who are fully vaccinated are permitted to interact/socialise with each other on raceday.
Not Fully Vaccinated – Essential Personnel who are not fully vaccinated are not permitted to interact/socialise with Owners/Patrons on raceday.
Race clubs are to present their COVID-19 Safety and Operational plans detailing this separation to Racing NSW prior to a race meeting being conducted.
In addition to these restrictions race clubs must continue to.
• Establish clear and precise conditions of entry to the racecourse.
• Monitor entrances to ensure mandatory QR code in on entry by all persons attending the racecourse.
• Sufficient signage to ensure patrons who are symptomatic or who are close or casual contacts do not enter the racecourse.
• Sufficient signage to ensure patrons are aware of the social distancing requirements.
• Installation of hand sanitising stations.
• Employment of cleaners wiping down high traffic areas and touch points.
• Use of separate saddle cloths and strappers bibs for each race as per Racing NSW minimum standards.
• Ensure that all indoor spaces comply with the 1 person per 4 square metre orders and mandatory mask wearing.
• The COVID-19 Safety Plan will clearly establish strategies developed by the race club that ensure social distancing across the venue.
Race clubs are permitted to conduct non-raceday functions and to allow contractors to attend the racecourse on non racedays without the approval of Racing NSW, subject to a COVID Safety Plan and risk mitigation strategy being prepared by the Club.
INTERSTATE TRAVEL
Victoria
Having considered the continuing high numbers of COVID-19 in Victoria, Essential Personnel (jockeys, trainers, stablehands, Officials and Service Providers) who reside in or have been to Victoria must adhere to the following policies prior to attending a NSW racecourse or licensed premises (in addition to any requirements under the NSW Government Public Health Orders), unless exempted by Racing NSW.
• Victorian Places of High Concern or Casual Contact – Any person who has been in a place of high concern or casual contact at the link below, must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises until Racing NSW has provided its approval, following that person making contact with Racing NSW Stewards and providing details of such contact. Racing NSW Stewards will provide details of requirements before attending a NSW racecourse or licensed premises.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/interstate-concernsnotice.pdf
• Victoria (Fully Vaccinated) – Any fully vaccinated person who has been in the State of Victoria (other than the NSW/Victorian bubble) and has not been to a place of high concern or casual contact, is only permitted to attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises if they meet the following requirements:
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of the day they arrived in NSW and evidence of registration of travel (if required).
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of vaccination status, showing they have been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.
o Must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises for 72 hours after arriving in NSW and provide Racing NSW Stewards with the negative result of PCR COVID-19 test taken after 48 hours following their return.
• Victoria (Not Fully Vaccinated) – Any person not fully vaccinated who has been in the State of Victoria (other than the NSW/Victorian bubble) and has not been to a place of high concern or casual contact, is only permitted to attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises if they meet the following requirements:
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of the day they arrived in NSW and evidence of registration of travel (if required).
o Must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises for 14 days and provide Racing NSW Stewards with the negative results of PCR COVID-19 tests taken on day 4 & 14.
Other States
There are currently no restrictions on attending a racecourse or licensed premises from States other than Victoria. However, all persons must abide by NSW Government Public HealthOrders when travelling from interstate.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
• Fully Vaccinated – Any fully vaccinated person who has been to an international location, is only permitted to attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises if they meet the following requirements:
o Comply with all government orders in respect to their entry into Australia.
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of the day they arrived in NSW and evidence of registration of travel (if required).
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of vaccination status, showing they have been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.
o Must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises for 72 hours after arriving in NSW and provide Racing NSW Stewards with the negative result of PCR COVID-19 test taken after 48 hours following their return.
• Not Fully Vaccinated – Any person not fully vaccinated who has been to an international location, is only permitted to attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises if they meet the following requirements:
o Comply with all government orders in respect to their entry into Australia.
o Provide Racing NSW Stewards with evidence of the day they arrived in NSW evidence of registration of travel (if required).
o Must not attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises for 14 days and provide Racing NSW Stewards with the negative results of PCR COVID-19 tests taken on day 4 & 14.
LICENSED PREMISES (STABLES) ACCESS
Fully Vaccinated – There are no restrictions on persons who are fully vaccinated from attending stables or licensed premises. This includes fully vaccinated owners (subject to the permission of the trainer). Trainer must ensure that all persons attending are fully vaccinated.
Not Fully Vaccinated – Other than Essential Personnel, any person who is not fully vaccinated is not permitted to attend stables or licensed premises.
Essential Personnel are defined as
• Racing NSW Stewards and Veterinarians
• Trainers, Jockeys and Stablehands with a runner at the race meeting
• Barrier Attendants, Starters and essential Track Staff
• Clerks of the Course
• Judges and Sectional Timing Teams
• Weighing Room Staff and jockeys’ attendants
• Race day Event Staff and security including horse stalls, mounting yard and float carpark
• Club Doctor and Ambulance Services
• Farriers and other essential service providers
• Broadcast services including Race Caller
• Restricted Core Racing Media as approved by Racing NSW and the Race Club
• Restricted operational Race Club staff and management
