HARNESS Racing Victoria has announced an increase in field sizes from eight to 10 runners a race from this Thursday.
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In response to the rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic, HRV last month tightened field sizes to eight and entered a region-based racing model to protect the industry.
The first easing of those restrictions was announced on Monday.
HRV general manager of racing Stephen Bell praised the industry for its co-operative approach, which has positioned the sport to continue racing and start thinking about a return to normal racing.
"We'll be taking a phased approach out of the region-based racing model and an announcement is expected later this week," Bell said.
"From Thursday onward field sizes will be lifted to 10 horses a race.
"We've had an extreme number of ballots since the commencement of region-based racing, so we're really glad to now be in a position to increase that to 10.
"We've done a lot of hard work to keep racing in the last two months and we don't want to let that go to waste by rushing too quickly back to normal."
Race meetings will continue to be conducted with only essential personnel on track, while temperature checks and physical distancing measures will also continue.
The first meeting to operate with increased field sizes will be run at Bendigo's Lord's Raceway on Thursday, followed by Terang later in the the day.
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