Crowd numbers for this weekend's traditional Christmas meeting were capped at 500 two weeks ago in line with state government regulations.

While that won't change, there is welcome news for clubs following confirmation from Racing Victoria this week that the maximum number of spectators permitted to attend Victorian race meetings under COVIDSafe protocols can increase from 500 to 1000.

The new limit is contingent on clubs seeking the necessary approval and satisfying COVIDSafe requirements.

Hearps welcomed the increased the industry-wide increase in spectator numbers.

While this week's announcement will have no impact on Sunday's meeting due to the timing, Hearps said the club was looking forward to welcoming back what spectators it could for the first time since March, albeit the crowd would be well down on previous years.

"We only had less than two weeks to try and promote the day and pull it all together and what's ultimately happened is that the Christmas parties and break-ups that would normally attend found venues some time ago, while we were in limbo,"

"We got one or two of those back, but others have found other venues.

"Normally we are promoting and advertising this race meeting in June to give the groups who are really organised booked in and settled, but we've only had two weeks.

"We'll still have 200 or 300 (people) on-course, which is 10-times more than what we have had since we've been able to have some owners back, which has usually been around the 30-mark."

With COVID restrictions easing and constantly under review as Victoria, on Thursday, posted its 41st straight day without a new coronavirus case, Hearps believed the outlook was looking bright for the club's first meeting in 2021 - Marong Cup day on February 13.

"We know, barring a third wave, February is going to look a lot better," he said.

"I'm really optimistic things will be a lot better by then."

Hearps added patrons attending on Sunday could expect plenty of fencing between areas to limit movement in and around the course, with patrons already allocated a specific pre-purchased seat

To support the expansion in spectator limits, Racing Victoria will continue to segregate the racecourse between spectators and racing participants with this requirement to be reviewed on a regular basis.

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