The Everest, Australia’s richest race, has received a massive boost on the eve of the event with doors to be opened up for NSW fans.
The Everest is set to be run in front of 10,000 fans on Saturday as a huge crowd is welcomed back for Australia’s richest horse race.
The Daily Telegraph reports the $15 million race will boast the slogan “the race that stops the hibernation”, after Sydney’s lockdown restrictions were eased on Monday.
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Late last month, the NSW government had capped the crowd at 5000 after the Australian Turf Club (ATC) applied for an exemption to allow up to 15,000 fans to watch on trackside.
It was reported the final decision to settle on 10,000 fans for one of the biggest days on the racing calendar would need to be given the green light by NSW cabinet’s Covid recovery subcommittee on Wednesday. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports Premier Dominic Perrottet has signed off on the exemption for 10,000 fans to be allowed at Royal Randwick.
NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson, who is also responsible for racing, celebrated the news on Twitter.
Australian Turf Club CEO Jamie Barkley thanked the government for its help.
“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,’’ Mr Barkley 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.”
But not everyone was happy with the news.
Greens senator and vocal critic of the horse racing industry, Mehreen Faruqi, tweeted in response to Anderson’s post The Everest was receiving “special treatment”.
“This is just gross. ‘Special treatment’ is an understatement,” she wrote. “The racing industry just gets whatever it wants.
“More and more people are turning away from horse racing but Liberal and Labor governments are adamant to keep this cruel sport alive no matter the circumstances.
“Only a couple of weeks ago the Government was talking about 5000 spectators for the Everest. But a special exemption given by the Government now means 10,000 will be allowed at the race.
“In a recent independent poll commissioned by my office, a clear majority of people (55 per cent) agreed that racing for gambling and entertainment is cruel. The industry’s social license has been in jeopardy for years. But money talks and animals suffer the consequences.”
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