The July Racing Carnival has still gone ahead this year, despite a reduction of numbers attending due to the COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.

Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) CEO Michael Beattie said that there are a lot of different things that they have had to do surrounding the running of this year’s carnival.

“You can only dance with the girl you’ve brung, so that’s what we’re going to do; we’re just going to make it happen,” Mr Beattie said.

“The Westlawn Cup Day, which was held on Sunday June 28, saw things more restricted on that day than where we are now.

“The betting entries were very strong, the field sizes were good and everything like that was positive, but the trick was the restrictions and they were always going to make the difference – but it is what it is.

“We’re working to a completely different set of rules and you just have to work your way through it.  

“South Cup Day (on Sunday), we had around 300 people on track which was a mixture of members and owners and again the racing was very good.

Mr Beattie said that member wishing to attend the Grafton Cup on Thursday need to book their seat which can be done by calling the office, prior to turning up at the racetrack on the day.

For more information regarding the July Racing Carnival go to the CRJCs Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/clarence.riverjockeyclub/posts

Meanwhile the 2-half day public holidays for July’s Annual Race Carnival have been cancelled.

Mr Beattie confirmed that the public holidays have been ungazetted.

“This has happened to a number of other race clubs and agriculture shows,” he said.

The Government has declared:

“The object of this Order is to amend the Public Holidays Order of 2011 to cancel the declaration of the following additional part-day public holidays in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – (a)

8 and 9 July 2020 in Grafton City within the Clarence Valley local government area, as public attendance at the events scheduled for those days (the Ramornie Handicap and the Grafton Cup) is limited.”

This is a joint article by Lynne Mowbray & Leanda Hunter