Chris Alford drove at Bathurst on 20/3/20 and has continued to drive ever since. Seems to be breaching the rule. What am I missing ?
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Chris Alford drove at Bathurst on 20/3/20 and has continued to drive ever since. Seems to be breaching the rule. What am I missing ?
Rick, I am thinking the fact that the Penrith official who threw the cloud over Bathurst tested negative and the fact that HRV/HRNSW did not close the border until Mar 23 put Chris in the clear unlike David Miles who has had to self isolate
Reading another article, saw old news - the fact that the All Stars have shut down for the season. In case anybody else missed it too
http://www.harnesslink.com/News/All-Stars-stable-
Tassie bits the dust
So many employed in this industry I dont see the other states following suit just yet. Sydney will be safe until at least next weekend due to the Championships imo.
Re Chris Alford, they seemed to have changed their original bans and the new ones started from the 30th of March. I was not trying to have ago at Chris, it's just due to his high profile he is the easiest to remember.
This post was not completed until now Sat 4 Apr, I accidentally cancelled it yesterday when it was 99% complete, and lost a lot of it. it recommences where the italics startQuote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
I think it's a shame, but one of my personal concerns is the difficulty we all have in not touching all the surfaces and our face etc .I think it is these transmissions that are the problem. I have a small bottle of a hand sanitiser that is running out. You can't buy them anywhere though. I do use it as soon as I leave the supermarket, and when it runs out I 'll have to take the liquid soap dispense from the bathroom, take it with me and bottle of water . Yes , I used coles delivery .. not cheap, but my health is supreme so I guess I need to restart deliveries. You get the drift. On the positive side,
I have only heard of 1 case of ‘local’ trans in high risk areas at Coles and Woolies etc, that’s pretty good if true, but of course it’s a moving target this virus.
What I wanted to say was that the CEO, this reactionary CEO should be on the front foot in getting a quality document on what HRV is doing in relation to cleansing its racetracks, and in particularly on the day before racedays and on race-days.
This document should detail the mitigation strategies and protocols that it puts in place for all those attending events. This includes placement of sanitisers throughout the course, providing a pamphlet to all those attending on actions attendees must take, actual cleansing measures to wipe down surfaces etc etc , the day before th event and on race day, communicating strategies including using the powerful course broadcast system to remind the attendees about all that.
People might throw their hands up in the air and say, we can’t do that, no it’s a waste, it’s BS but in another breath will agree that it will be a calamity if the trots and greyhounds are stopped.
A company like Spotless is very experienced in this area and can develop a comprehensive health prevention and cleansing plan quickly, a customised and very professionally prepared consultancy plan for HRV ready for very rapid distribution to Trainers and Drivers, race callers, course administrators etc.
But the critical elements of the plan once agreed must be implemented in a helluva hurry BEFORE ( emphasised) the report is provided to the Premier and Health Minister. This is critical. In other words if there is a meeting, the measures I identified must be put in place before a meeting.
I say to the reactionary CEO, for heavens sake, even if you can’t get a plan together for getting free to air on 7 while the footy is not televised, get the health prevention plan prepared immediately.
Get together with Spotless, Broadspectrum for instance, and get that plan developed as the very most urgent priority you have. These companies have contacts in the health Departments at the highest level too.
Again, It is essential that you can demonstrate that the critical measures of the plan are already implemented at the course before you approach the Ministry. That allows the Minister to wave the plan in the air to the media as a strong defence of what HRV is proactively doing to protect the public. Yes this might be difficult, but what is worse, a total shutdown, or a plan like I am saying might allow HRV, and for that matter, the greyhound racing industry to continue.
And please, please don’t worry about the cost of the consultancy as there are mountains of dough available to get this reimbursed. BUT SPEED IS THE ESSENCE, THE ABSOLUTE ESSENCE.
If the Government is going to permit back packers to work in Regions to help farmers to pick and harvest crops, a decision approved today, to a group of people who travel the world, then it can allow harness to continue if the HRV does what I propose.
Don’t get me wrong, I live rurally, I fully support farmers, but this group of people ( the backpackers) would have be the riskiest group of people to transmit this virus to us in the bush in particular, where the health resources a much much leaner than they are in cities. So you’d expect a lot of ‘health redundancy’ to be put in place to ensure these backpackers are not carriers right now. We must remember that you may be asymptomatic, but Ill with the disease, ready to pass it on. So things like the thermometer forehead check is appropriate for that group.
And, compellingly, one final comment, we can be very sure that irrespective of what occurs with this virus, the type of plan I am proposing will be required well after the Corona v starts to lessen, and ‘lessen’ is the operative word, the v won’t be under any real control until we get a vaccine. The Deputy Chief Health Officer of the Commonwealth said that yesterday. We are told a vaccine is unlikely to be ready for some eighteen months. Can the world tolerate and afford 18 months of unemployment. The answer is a resounding ‘ No’ . So, the health prevention plan Is required now anyway, a prerequisite before recommencement could occur after any imminent (we expect soon) decision to stop harness racing anyway. Thats the reality. Getting this plan prepared now is therefore very timely, very astute, and a very rational approach.
Hi Kevin
Can you weave your magic.. the last post, and the last in this I placed to today is an edit of what I did yesterday, but at the moment most people won’t see it..can you repost it so it becomes ‘new post’ ... thanks K
It is already there for everyone to see Terry
I agree Terry that we must have a fantastic virus minimalization plan in place
Fastidiously enforced by stewards as we know that there is a sizeable percentage of the industry that cannot be trusted to do the right thing
Provided that we really are not flirting with doing harm to the state, I think we have to be proactive in declaring our case to be allowed to continue
Children are being encouraged to go to school, Childcare workers are being supported in keeping childcare centres open, Hairdressers are allowed to remain open (!)
The big problem that you raise and which has been raised in the media lately is 'what is the end game for the coronavirus policy' as the general population cannot remain in lockdown for 18 months
Thanks Kevin,Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
The main point I raise is that a pro health management plan must be presented to the Health Minister super urgently, but after measures in that plan have been implemented at courses, otherwise there is certainty that HR will be shut down.
The second point is that a plan will be required, be mandatory anyway. So getting it in now may mean the industry is not shut down. Not to do so, will be gross negligence.
The CEO and the Board have to get that plan going now. I gave them perhaps the best two organisations who will give them a solution, and do that very rapidly.
The third point is that backpackers will remain the greatest risk for all of us, so HR can continue, should continue but only if that plan is in place.
You can see now politics entering the health debate. What comprehensive, customised, virus mitigation plan is in effect at Randwick, at Rosehill right now? If there isn’t one, or more aptly a comprehensive one, why not? It is because they want the autumn carnival to be completed, that’s all, but pretend they are looking after us.
So the NSW Government’s (for example) top priority is not to look after you and me, it’s not .
What irks me so much is that the CEO and the HRV Board are just spectators, not doing things that look after the fragile Industry, and acting competently and professionally in moments of crisis. The get big money for doing big things, not sitting back as is happening now, doing meaningless things.
I don't think that is fair Terry, I don't know everything that the CEO and Board are doing - do you? I think they are working pretty bloody hardQuote:
Originally Posted by Halwes
Well, no, are they out there telling the Industry what they are doing, in what could be described as Australia’s greatest crisis in our history, aside from war time. Who doubts that? That is the context, that is the scenario. Press Releases are a show of what they may be working on, an indication of what is in the inbox, and what they are putting all energies into doing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
I haven’t seen press releases, they may be there, and no, I
don’t know, but to me the existential crisis is doing all to stop the Industry shutting down. That’s the a press release I’d be issuing, and already have issued, and I use all resources I had to get that out.
If you look at all the stories under this link, you will see that they have been pretty busy
https://www.thetrots.com.au/general/covid-19-coverage/
The whole regionalization of the states racing would be massive and although the CEO would not be doing the nitty gritty on that, he would have to be liaising with so many groups and clubs
Looks like NSW is adopting a no audio call due to COVID-19 policy, shame, no other state is doing this.
Just not sure what you mean Rod.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mighty Atom
Kevin, I withdraw the heat in my comments, and the heavy handed criticism. My point is that in the link you sent, there is no simple master plan. That plan is their best attempt to have a high quality mitigation Health Prevention and Cleansing Plan prepared by experts and accepted/edited by HRV, the action plan that I enunciated earlier, implemented, then sent to the Minister that demonstrates how the HRV plan IS implementing measures, not just talking about throw away comments of ‘wash your hands’. The plan is a living document, but there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
I’m not sure you understand my concept. The Master Plan prepared by the Consultants on health and cleansing I suggest is for the HRV across all of Vic. The stewards could amend the master for local conditions, but there should not be many.
That’s the proactive way, cancelling meetings may be required one off decision, but the plan I propose is a journey, but a quality journey to safeguarding the industry, to keep it going. The Health Minister can seek further advice, ask for specific changes, but accept the plan because the HRV implemented it. In other words you might not see the draconian decision made by the Tasmanian government.
I strongly suggest that is best way forward. There is a saying In God We Trust, Everyone Else Please Bring Data
BTW, we’re all confined to barracks tonight and until further notice watching the footy replay. Wouldn’t it be nice to have crossovers to the trots to see miracle mile, a free for all, a standing start with handicaps again, and a quality three old event (the existing schedule cancelled of course).
But no, we can only hope 7 and HRV can do something together, a resurrection around Easter, just like happened over 2000 years ago.
Diehard harness fans would also love this BUT those that are punters, would/could be watching the trots on their betting apQuote:
Originally Posted by Halwes
All TAB account holders can watch Sky racing online
Foxtel subscribers have Sky of course
Anybody can watch Victorian harness on Trots Vision
https://www.thetrots.com.au/racing/live-trots-vision/
I hope each region in Victoria has it's own set of stewards that are isolating themselves between meetings. If we don't they will spread the Wuhan Virus from one region to the next. They were the problem at Bathurst, only luck saved us.
Chris Alford drove 6 of the 8 winners at Cranbourne tonight. 5 were Odds On favs mind youQuote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=CR050420
Not sure where to post about the Vic regional racing, probably needs its own thread.
One thing I am liking about it is that the top 5 stables can't visit every track and collect a big share of the prize money. Locals are now getting all the money. Some people will see this as bad but I think it's good for the industry.
Unfortunately my horse is in the strongest region and she was being aimed at the vic bred series. Who knows what will happen with that ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by gutwagon
Unfortunately Bendigo and Melton seem to of had a pretty similar panel.
When they first instigated the regional racing I thought it was the best thing hrv had ever done, it was never going to be perfect but these are extreme circumstances and this seemed to be the best way to secure ongoing racing and provide options if there was any outbreak.
I understand they probably can’t correctly staff the number of regions they have split into with separate stewards but then just split into 2 or 3 or 4 regions, whatever they can cover.
How does the system work if you have stewards crossing regions?
One positive from anyone and they have potentially been in contact with either a steward or someone who has been to the stewards room. Therefore 2 or 3 regions are out and im pretty sure if we lose 2 or 3 regions they will call the end for all.
Apparently if you are called before the stewards everyone’s spread out in the room and the door is open where appropriate, but still doesn’t work for me.
Can a driver/trainer refuse to enter the room under health concerns?
You can’t be half pregnant. If they are going to do this it must be done properly.
Im seeing to many holes in the setup.
Yes John, the panels were nearly identical
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=MX040420
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=BN030420
Let's hope that it is no worse than having 'teams' of stewards that cover no more than 2 regions
So that these guys are doing Bendigo and Melton only
Edit: I suppose we should also look at cross-region use of Mediatec staff (unless they can guarantee they have no contact with anybody else)
I thought of a few of those things but didn’t want to sound to negative.
I can excuse the media folk as i can convince myself they come in super early in the truck and set up before anyone is there and then they shouldn’t have any interaction with anyone. I’m led to believe that some on course photographers have been told they are not essential, would like to think if that happens at one track its a universal call.
My other little one is the race caller, with the one entryway they must enter with the participants therefore are in contact. I might be wrong and it’s not perfect but could they not call from off course using the sky vision?
Loving the ease to do form with more horses having met or met similar horses and all at the same track so times are relative.
Not sure why Wagga has raced 4 times in about 10 days but not complaining.
I don't think that a caller would have to have any contact with participants either. Callers mostly have set tracks that they work so like the stewards you could have it that no caller visits more than 2 regionsQuote:
Originally Posted by Mytwobobsworth
If they enter through the same gate and sign in at the same place they will have contact or at least contact the same surfaces.
If so many factors are over 2 regions why not just have say 3 regions. More varied racing and opportunity for horses.
I think they would consider a few people spread over 2 regions is minuscule risk compared to all participants spread over 2 regions
Sitting in a car as they go through the gate and there isn't a roll call like high school.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mytwobobsworth
Stewards shouldn't be meeting with anyone in a room ! It should all be done via the phone via video calls . Stewards must stay isolated from all participants if they don't have a set of stewards for each region.
This seems very obvious , you can't have any person traveling between regions and coming in contact with people.
If a steward tests + them that whole panel will need to be quarantined for 14 days. They can be replaced and racing continue uninterrupted.
Under the current system if a steward tests + racing would have to stop in each region that steward has visited in the past 14 days !
Bit like the way Police in Victoria are walking around in groups of 4 all next to each other not 1.5 m apart. The virus doesn't care who you are, if everyone doesn't follow the rules we will be stuffed !
Massive point Rick, let's hope that they are regionalizing them at least to some extentQuote:
Originally Posted by gutwagon
Led to believe that at one track in particular everyone is entering the track through the horse entry on foot, then having to fill out a form and have temperature taken, so a lot closer contact than a school roll call.Quote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
To me there is no difference between 1 person crossing over or 100.
If they have been in contact with someone who tests positive all regions they have been in are over.
I've taken it as a no-brainer the commentators going to multiple regions would be kept seperate from participants. If thats not the case its really poor management.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mytwobobsworth
It is the risk factor, the problem is if someone contracts covid-19. 100 people is 100 chances, 1 person is 1 chance of this happeningQuote:
Originally Posted by Mytwobobsworth
RWWA Harness stakes reduction advice (20%)
http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/RWWA-
Has anyone been keeping an eye on the turnover figures ? Would be interesting to see if less sports has increased the turnover.
Also be interesting if having fewer races and less 6 horse fields improves turnover .
Wagga Sunday night there was one race that had about $500 in the pool with about a minute before jump. Probably not the greatest timeslot and NSW don't usually run Sunday night meets so hard to compare but pretty poor.Quote:
Originally Posted by gutwagon
I looked at the 2 Shep meets the other night and the next morning. I always look at the Win pool and the First 4 pools as they are the biggest and generally about the same
The night meet went from pools of $2k to about $8k by the last while the morning meet went from pools of $2k to about $5/6k by the last
Another 4/8 for Chris Alford at Kilmore today
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=KI080420