Updated: 28 September 2021

Greyhound Racing NSW and the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission is acting to ensure that our front-line staff, who are the core of our operations, and the greater greyhound industry remains safe, and that we can continue to operate safely and efficiently within the requirements of the COVID-19 Health Orders.

We remain agile to changed government requirements, and we will amend our protocols as and when required. Greyhound racing is a service in which participants and front-line staff are not reasonably able to operate from their place of residence. This scenario does not extend to people living in the strict lockdown LGA’s within greater Sydney. Our protocols are developed in consultation with government and implemented with the cooperation of clubs and participants.

By implementing strict COVID-19 safety protocols as part of our COVID-19 business plan, we seek to ensure that the industry can continue to operate safely, whilst ensuring the commercial viability of the whole NSW greyhound industry.

These protocols are to be read in conjunction with previous notices and are in addition to the restrictions imposed by the NSW Government. All staff and participants should ensure that they regularly review the NSW Government announcements and adhere to any applicable restrictions – see https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules for more information.

The following protocols must be strictly adhered to:

RACING PROTOCOLS

• All NSW Health Orders are to be strictly complied with.
• For NSW greyhound racetracks in areas under stay at home orders, only essential personnel are permitted to enter and remain on track. Under no circumstances are unregistered persons or children permitted to enter a venue on race days or trialling days.
• Tracks which are not in areas under stay at home orders, NSW Government restrictions apply.
• On arrival at NSW Greyhound Racetrack or Venue, staff and participants must scan in using QR codes.
• Wash hands as frequently as possible and wear a N95 or surgical face masks at all times.
• Temperature testing of all attendees prior to entry at racecourses is mandatory.
• Kennelling Vet check to occur outside where practicable.
• Procedure for kennelling vet check: Trainer will lift or walk their greyhound onto the vet table and step back promptly at least 1.5 metres. The designated club official then takes hold of the greyhound whilst the vet examination is conducted. Alternatively, if trainer consents, Club official l may take the lead at base of ramp and walk the greyhound onto table. The trainer will then be permitted to retrieve the greyhound from the vet table when requested by the club official, or from the ground
  level after it is walked down from the table.
• Greyhound ID (outside where practicable).
• Weigh in (outside where practicable). Kennel is allocated at race bay – new computerised ‘No Contact’ system
• Do not attend a racetrack, club, trial track, other participant’s premises, or any other greyhound-related premises if you have attended an exposure site listed by NSW Health or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 including but not limited to, fever, cough or tiredness. If listed as a close or casual contact or are experiencing any symptoms, you should immediately get tested and self-isolate until you receive a negative result or longer as directed by NSW Health.
• Any participant who returns a positive COVID test must immediately report such result to Greyhound Racing NSW and GWIC.
• The one person per four square metre rule applies to all indoor and outdoor settings.
• Participants may be subject to random rapid covid testing by GRNSW and GWIC at venues prior to entry.
• There will be no finish-on racing until further notice at Richmond on Sundays. Racing will continue but not as finish-on.
• From August 20, there will be a restriction of how many people can now attend a race track. Up to 3 greyhounds 1 person, 4-6 greyhounds 2 people and over 7, 3 people.
• Up to 3 dogs - 2 suitably registered participants (including trainer) unless multiple dogs in same race, where additional people to assist can be approved at the Stewards discretion.
• 4 or more dogs - 3 suitably registered participants (including trainer) unless multiple dogs in same race, where additional people to assist can be approved at Stewards discretion. louissaperas@gwic.nsw.gov.au

GREATER SYDNEY

Participants residing in Greater Sydney must always adhere to the abovementioned Racing Protocols. Additionally, should participants travel outside of the Greater Sydney area, they must act in accordance with the NSW Health Orders and apply for a travel permit if they are attending a track that is 50km or more outside of Greater Sydney Area.

DECLARED AREAS – ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS (updated September 23)

List of restricted lockdown LGA’s or Declared Areas as at 13/08/2021:

(Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and Strathfield Local Government Areas and parts of Penrith Local Government Area including: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, St Mary’s, North St Mary’s, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park and St Clair. 

Participants residing in a ‘Declared Area’ can nominate their greyhounds for any race meeting in the Greater Sydney Region (Wentworth Park, Richmond, Dapto, Bulli). The Government Health order restrictions and permits apply. You MUST comply with these to attend race meetings and trial sessions.

The updated protocols will now give all participants in the 11 LGAs and the 12 Penrith suburbs (Declared Areas) - both fulltime and hobbyists - the opportunity to race their greyhounds, compensation payments to those previously unable to race, will now cease.

For the full list of protocols which apply to trainers that have approval to use an Authorised Worker to transport greyhounds for racing purpose, click here.

PROTOCOLS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN ALL REGIONS (Updated September 23):

• LGA’s of concern: participants can nominate their greyhounds for any race meeting in the Greater Sydney Region (Wentworth Park, Richmond, Dapto, Bulli). The Government Health order restrictions and permits apply. You MUST comply with these to attend race meetings and trial sessions.
• Greater Sydney: participants are subject to stay at home orders but can travel for work purposes, including greyhound racing. A travel permit is required if travelling to a race track that is 50km or more outside of Greater Sydney.
• Regional NSW: (including Shellharbour and the Central Coast) participants are subject to stay at home orders but can travel for work purposes, including greyhound racing. Masks are mandatory inside and outside.

For more information on travel permits, including  how to apply, visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-your-travel-within-nsw

If a participant decides to change their current racing pattern, then they need to ensure that they are aware of the NSW Health guidelines when crossing into areas that have been impacted by NSW Government Health advice. This is the participant’s responsibility.

We request that all participants, particularly those in the Greater Sydney Area, limit their movements during the lockdown period to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and placing risk on the industry and local communities. The vigilance of NSW greyhound participants will help us to prevent the COVID-19 virus from infiltrating the greyhound racing industry.

You can help the industry and your family by regularly checking the list of exposure sites at this link: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/nsw-covid-19-case-locations

We are confident that the industry’s actions last year prove our ability to run a safe and compliant operation, whilst preserving the livelihood of staff and participants and the commerciality of the industry.

We thank you for your support in doing all that is necessary to keep our industry operating.

If anyone has any further enquiries or questions around protocols, please contact GRNSW on update@grnsw.com.au.

Safe racing!

Tony Mestrov and Steve Griffin

CEO GRNSW and CEO GWIC