Racing Queensland has advised of changes to its COVID-19 Racing Code Protocols including the implementation of an ‘SEQ area’ due to the NSW border zone.
Effective from Friday, July 30, RQ will require all Essential Racing Personnel - and owners entering the Core Racing Areas – to wear face masks at all meetings in the SEQ area.
For clarity, the SEQ area will extend west from Caloundra to Kilcoy and Dalby, then south-west to the Queensland-NSW border, to include Toowoomba and Warwick as well as non-TAB venues in the Eastern Downs Country Racing Association located close to the border, particularly Talwood, Goondiwindi, Texas and Stanthorpe.
It is expected these requirements will remain in place for this extended SEQ area whilst the NSW border zone remains in operation.
In addition, RQ will also introduce new measures for jockeys who travel to race meetings by air travel.
Air travel jockeys will be required to continue wearing face masks at all race meetings across the state - and trackwork/training activities they attend - whether in regional Queensland or in their home base area when travelling by car.
Furthermore, air travel jockeys will also be required to undergo regular COVID-19 tests.
Any jockey looking to remove themselves from this classification will be required to forgo air travel for a period of five days, along with providing evidence of a subsequent negative COVID-19 test.
Click here to read the latest Racing Queensland COVID-19 protocols.