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Shock as NSW allows 10,000 punters in to star-studded The Everest – the world’s richest horse race
- Everest raceday granted exemption to host 10,000 punters at event on Saturday
- Major events are normally only allowed to host 5,000 guests under restrictions
- Rapid antigen testing will be set up for trainers and jockeys that arrive on course
The Everest will be allowed to host 10,000 punters marking the first major event since the end of lockdown in Sydney.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has approved an exemption for the bigger crowd to attend the $15million race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Major events are normally only allowed up to 5,000 guests under current restrictions. The boost to 10,000 is still well short of the 42,000 who packed Randwick Racecourt in 2019 for the event.
The Australian Turf Club has drawn up its Covid-safe protocol for the day which includes one punter every four square metres.
The Everest raceday will be allowed to host 10,000 punters marking the first major event since the end of lockdown in Sydney
Premier Dominic Perrottet has approved an exemption for the massive crowd to be hosted at Royal Randwick on Saturday
Chief executive Jamie Barkley said he was thrilled the race would be going ahead.
‘The Australian Turf Club has been working closely with the NSW government throughout the pandemic and we are thrilled to be opening the gates to more people this Saturday,’ he said.
‘Sydney and our racing is back open for business during the $50 million Everest carnival and for a race and event being watched around the world.
‘The Sydney spring is ready to shine with spectators and the ATC is ready to a lead the way in a COVID-safe reopening across the city.’
Rapid antigen testing will be set up for trainers and jockeys when they arrive on the course.
The owners of the horses will also not be allowed to visit the raceday stalls.
The Everest is Australia’s richest horse race. Organisers had been lobbying for months the state government to host the event.
Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club argued that because the event is mainly outdoors – where the virus is less likely to spread – it should be given the go-ahead.
The massive crowd will be a welcome sight for organisers after they were forced drastically scale back numbers at the event in 2020.
The Australian Turf Club has drawn up its Covid-safe protocol for the day which includes one punter every four square metres
The massive crowd will be a welcome sight for organisers after they were forced drastically scale back numbers at the event in 2020
Hardline Covid-19 restrictions meant people had to remain seated while enjoying a drink and watching the horses race.
There were also limits on how many people could be outside and watching the horses at any one time.
Punters were required to sign in before their temperature was checked by healthcare workers at the entrance.
Long queues were replaced by empty spaces and normally packed stands were next to deserted.
Punters were seated in groups at tables that had been set up on the green next to the racecourse.
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