All racing ceases as country goes into lockdown to stem spread of Covid-19
By Barry Lichter • 23 March 2020
All racing in the country will cease immediately after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today the Covid-19 alert level will be raised to level 4 in 48 hours.
The number of coronavirus cases rose overnight by 36 to 102 and Ardern says New Zealand faces the potential for devastating impacts, and there was a “small window to get ahead of it”.
Ardern raised the alert level to 3 immediately, and said all non-essential services now had to close, as would all schools, she said.
Ardern said the whole country must now go into self isolation and without these measures, tens of thousands of people could die, according to medical modelling considered by Cabinet today.
“The worst case scenario is simply intolerable,” she said.
“If community transmission takes off in New Zealand, the number of cases will double every five days.
“Now is the time to put our plans into action. We are fortunate to be in some way behind the majority of overseas countries in terms of cases … but act now or risk the virus taking hold.”
She said the situation was moving at pace “and so must we”.
Ardern said the country would be under level 4 restrictions for at least four weeks but in time the level could be reduced.
“Things will look worse before they are better but hopefully these measures will slow the virus down and prevent the health system from being overwhelmed.
“All indoor and outdoor events cannot proceed. In short, we are all now preparing as a nation to go into self-isolation in the same way we have seen other countries do. Staying at home is essential.”
Ardern said the minimum period for the country to be in self isolation was four weeks.
“With everyone’s compliance, the hope is that we’ll see a slow in the trend of cases and we might then be able to lift restrictions in particular areas.”
Ardern stressed New Zealanders would continue to have access to essential services and she urged people not to panic buy at supermarkets.
The Prime Minister’s full announcement can be seen and read here:
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
