THE COVID 19 STAKES: GRATEFUL FOR WHERE WE ARE BUT THIS RACE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO YET.

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 10, 2020

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

Feature racing and public race meeting attendance come together at Corbould Park this weekend with the Sunshine Coast Turf Club hosting the Winx Guineas and the Glasshouse Handicap.

There will be almost be a feeling that everything is back to normal … almost, but not quite … and Queenslanders in general, and the racing participants in particular, would be entitled to stand and applaud their own efforts for bringing the leisure and sporting activities of the sunshine state back into play at this time but, in truth, the dark events in Victoria loom as a shadow over the entire country and racing, where-ever it is taking place, has to remain very much on guard.

By way of contrast to Queensland, racehorse owners are currently being completely banned from eleven Victorian racetracks on the back of the disturbing events in Melbourne and no time period has been set for their return. Also, in a decision which will have major consequences, Racing NSW this week banned entry of any racehorse into New South Wales from Melbourne with immediate effect.

For racing, the Covid 19 experience has really been similar to being lashed by a storm at sea without ever knowing for certain if it would be able to stay afloat. Racing changed course several times … declaring specific, restricted racing zones, bringing in protocol after protocol, changing this, moving that … in order to dodge the knockout blow.

Racing’s efforts, in fact, giving the huge number of people who are involved in the industry who have done the right thing in terms of staying safe and staying healthy so that the sport could continue, has been spectacular, but the sea it is sailing is still far from calm and, with that Victorian storm on the horizon, who knows which way the Covid 19 wind will blow next.

So, racing participants who are travelling well because their state has arguably managed the threat of the pandemic better than some other states, have to be grateful for what they’ve got … when they’ve got it, and there is no question that the big day at Corbould Park on Saturday forms part of a positive front that Queensland will be desperate to maintain going forward.

Racing enthusiasts from all areas of the sport will add some vibrance to that message when they attend the Corbould Park meeting, but that will be in the moment. To say that the future is really still all up in the air with regard to Covid 19, if you’ll pardon the pun, is about as accurate an assessment anyone can give at this time so, no, it is not over yet.

Whether you are in the positive situation like Queensland or in a state that has a strong negative connotations like Victoria, there can be no doubt that racing will continue to endeavour to ensure that the racing product is protected to the best of the different racing jurisdictions collective ability and that all will be done to contain, subdue and ultimately defeat the challenge that is Covid 19.

Make no mistake though, this race has a way to go yet!