"At the moment, we are going to have crowds on the 16th of October at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club."
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With those words, an excited MTC president Geoff Harrison confirmed high hopes for a scaled back but sold out 'Aggies' race day.
"We're lucky that we race on the 16th because I think that'll be the first day anywhere in NSW that we can have crowds, from what I believe."
The MTC will limit capacity on course to around half that of some previous editions. And all patrons will have to be fully vaccinated.
"We're working on the 3500 crowd. And everybody's got to be 'double-vacced'," Harrison said.
As well as proof of vaccination at the gate, COVID-safe check-ins, physical distancing, and masks indoors, the MTC has warned ticketholders of the potential for further advice from Racing NSW.
The meeting went ahead without crowds last year. This year, it was pushed back a month in what looks a successful salvage mission.
"We sold out by Monday, ticket sales were quite strong the last couple of weeks," the MTC's Cass Writer said, adding that ticketholders will be offered a refund if the restrictions prevent them attending.
"We're very excited... but there is that asterisk of waiting officially for Racing NSW's advice on protocols."
The MTC has remained in close contact with Racing NSW about their hopes for spectators this month and can set themselves up for a busy finish to the year after plenty of planning for the Ag race day.
"We feel really confident. We've spent a lot of time and energy working out how we can minimise any issues for people coming in," Writer said.
"We do tend to have lines on that day anyway so we've limited the number of tickets because we want to have a COVID-safe event and be able to manage those lines (given the additional requirements for entry)."
Harrison said the requirement of being double-vaccinated to be on course will remain until at least the start of December. Beyond that is beyond guessing at this point.
For now, the president's pleased to welcome crowds back and is proud that, in the meantime, the sport has kept horses on the track and participants racing for prizemoney.
"We've battled with no crowds, we've got through and we've kept the industry going which is the main thing," he said.
"Even though we've only had trainers and strappers and essential staff on course, at least people in pubs or in their loungerooms are able to watch races and have a bet.
"The last meeting we had in Wagga $165,000 went into the industry which is good.
"That's all we could do. We have kept it going and it's been a blessing to do that, with the amount of people involved."
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