Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) is continuing to actively work with the WA Government to ensure that racing can recommence as soon as possible.
Although no further updates are currently available on the situation beyond the current five-day lockdown within the Perth metropolitan, Peel and South West regions, RWWA and Race Clubs are making the necessary operational arrangements for the resumption of race meetings from Saturday, 6 February 2021. Accordingly, nominations, acceptances, and release of racefields for all meetings scheduled from this date onwards are being undertaken as normal, however, we will advise you if this changes.
Further race programming amendments following the full or part cancellation of all race meetings from Sunday, 31 January to Friday, 5 February are detailed below:
Thoroughbred
Given the uncertainty around regional travel boundaries beyond Friday and the limited number of thoroughbred horses within the Wheatbelt region, the decision has been made to transfer Sunday’s Narrogin meeting to Ascot. This decision has been taken prior to closing of acceptances so that field sizes may be increased to the Ascot safety limits. Distance changes applicable are as follows:
- 1190m now 1200m
- 1720m now 1800m
- 1900m now 1800m
Following this week’s cancellation of the Geraldton and Albany race meetings on Wednesday, 3 February and Thursday, 4 February respectively, the following replacement race meetings have been scheduled:
- Albany – Monday, 8 February
- Geraldton – Tuesday, 9 February
New nominations will be taken for each of these meetings with entries closing at 9.30am tomorrow (Friday, 5 February) with acceptances at 8am on Saturday, 6 February. Race programmes for these meetings will be made available on the CRIS website and Stable Assist.
As a result of these race date changes, Lark Hill trials originally programmed for Monday, 8 February will be postponed to Tuesday, 9 February.
There is no opportunity to replace the lost Esperance meeting and additional races will be added to the next scheduled meeting of Saturday, 13 February, if required.
Additional races will also be scheduled at next week’s midweek fixtures at Ascot and Bunbury to replace races lost at Bunbury last Sunday.
Harness
The $50,000 Dainty’s Daughter Classic has been transferred to the Gloucester Park meeting on Friday, 19 February. The harness racing team is exploring opportunities to re-schedule the lost Albany harness meeting to a new date.
It is not possible to add an additional metropolitan prime meeting to the racing calendar. To ensure the stakes from Friday’s cancelled race meeting are returned to the industry, a total of nine additional metropolitan staked races will be added to race programmes at times when nominations allow during the season.
Similarly, additional provincial 1 races will be added to existing meetings where nomination allow.
Greyhounds
Given race meetings are already scheduled seven days a week within the greyhound code, additional races will be programmed at existing meetings to maximise racing opportunities.
RWWA will continue to update the industry as soon as further information becomes available.