The reaction from leaders of the South African horseracing industry is awaited after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the coronavirus a state of disaster on Sunday evening.
The Sporting Post called on some of our industry captains for comment last week and after a relatively lukewarm response – probably understandable given the unique nature of the challenge – repeated the request this evening for some indication as to what action is anticipated.
President Ramaphosa said gatherings of more than 100 people are not allowed and major government events have been cancelled. He also said schools would be closed from 18 March and will reopen after the Easter holidays.
“We are imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China as from 18 March,” he added.
While spectator bans were implemented in Hong Kong and the first British racecourse spectator-free meeting will be held on Monday, there is no indication as to how a mostly factured and divided SA racing industry will deal with the challenges it faces.
While the average local racemeeting hardly attracts ‘crowds’ in the true sense, major events in the next six months include the final leg of the SA Triple Tiara at Turffontein on 4 April, the National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg from 22 – 24 April, and the opening of the SA Champions Season in Durban on 1 May.
The Vodacom Durban July is scheduled for Hollywoodbets Greyville on 4 July.
Let’s hope that sanity and leadership prevails – quickly.
