NZTR continues to work through the implications of the announcement that for three days from midnight 14 February 2021, the Auckland region will be placed in Alert Level 3 and the remainder of the country in Alert Level 2.

Attendance at Race or Trials meetings

The trials meetings at Cambridge and at Ashburton on 16 February 2021 and the race meeting at Te Aroha will each be run under NZTR Directive – ‘Protocols for training and racing under COVID-19 Alert Level 2’ (see link).

Additionally, it has been decided that all three of these meetings will be run ‘behind closed doors’, meaning that the owners of horses entered, members, the public, and sponsors will be unable to attend.

NZTR and the clubs apologise and acknowledge that this may be a disappointment to those affected, but with insufficient time allowed to safely plan for a group (or groups) limited up to 100 persons, it was jointly determined that this restriction is justified.

Movement across Auckland Boundaries

The restriction on movement of persons across the Auckland borders applies on the same basis as it did in 2020 when Alert Level 3 prevailed in Auckland region and at Level 2 elsewhere.  This impacts trainers, riders and racing officials or contractors.  Horses may be moved in or out of the Auckland region (including to a race or trials meeting in another region), provided that the horse is moved by a transport company, and arrangements have been made for the horse to be handled by another person at that location. 

Announcements regarding other race or trial meetings will be made in coming days, in response to government updates and health orders.