Racing seeking crowd exemption for Everest day, NRL may follow suit
The Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW are hopeful of being granted an exemption from COVID-19 public health orders this week to have 15,000 punters at Randwick for Everest day.
In a move that could also help the NRL lift finals crowds at ANZ Stadium to 60,000 by increasing numbers allowed in private boxes and functions, racing officials have applied to have the four-square-metre rule for each patron reduced to two square metres across Randwick on October 17.
Racing NSW is aiming to have 15,000 people on course to see who follows in the footsteps of Yes Yes Yes in winning The Everest.Credit:Getty Images
The ATC put forward a number of different scenarios, using its experience from the past couple of months of having crowds back on track, which are being evaluated by NSW Health, police and other agencies with an answer expected this week. If approved, it could double the attendance at Randwick.
Racecourses are in the unique situation of coming under three different categories in the Public Health Orders pertaining to pubs and clubs, stadiums and restaurants.
The stadium policy is a chequerboard approach to seating, which allows groups of people sit together but at a safe distance from others, while function areas within venues still have to follow the four-square-metre rule per person and room limits.
“It would a good way to start to drive jobs and getting the economy going again,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said. “If we can get more people into functions and to sporting events, it means the club and venues will need more staff.
Peter V'landys has been at the forefront of getting crowds back to sport in both his racing and rugby league roles.Credit:Wolter Peeters
”Racing has been a leader throughout the pandemic and has shown responsibility in keeping going and when we got crowds back to the track, we have used effective protocols that have become a benchmark.
“The infection rate continues to drop and the signs are good that the government could be ready to loosen restrictions.”
Randwick would only be able to have a crowd of 6500 under the current rules for Everest day but that would swell to close to 15,000 under the club’s preferred option, which would lift restrictions on how many people are allowed in a room.
Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres is leading the group for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in relation to the COVID restrictions and pointed out patrons will still need to have purchased an allocated seat.
“The events taskforce has successfully worked with venue operators and NSW Health to increase capacities in stadiums and theatres and we are now evaluating options for major spring race days,” Ayres said.
“Where we can increase capacity in a COVID-safe way we will aim to do that.
“I know there is a lot of enthusiasm but considered and incremental steps are what have allowed us to handle the pandemic well and we should stick with a winning formula.”
ATC general manager for corporate and government affairs, Steve McMahon, has been working closely with NSW Health and believes the plan for Randwick can work. It would increase the crowd on the lawn but would double the numbers allowed in dining and function areas.
“We have continued racing throughout this crisis and we were one of the first sports to come back with crowds,” McMahon said. “We have a lot of experience at doing this in a COVID-safe way.
"We are a unique venue and would like to have uniformity across the whole [of] Randwick for Everest day for consistency and safety. At the moment we have different rules for different areas.
“We are more of a jigsaw puzzle than the chequered board they are using for stadiums but we are wary of not overstretching our capacity for the spring meetings."
By increasing the crowd the ATC expects it would need at least 300 extra staff for its spring meetings.
Racing writer for The Sydney Morning Herald