Crowd restrictions forecasted for Kempsey Cup but the show will go on

So far this year Kempsey has only hosted the one race meet with the Gladstone and Euroka Cup held on May 4 with no crowds permitted.

Kempsey Race Club secretary, John Graham, expects there to be crowds allowed at the Kempsey Cup but understands there will be restrictions.

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Under the NSW Public Health Order, major recreation facilities must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and are permitted to have up to 25% of normal capacity of the venue or 10,000 persons (whichever is lesser) when admission to the premises is by way of a ticket and each person has been assigned to a seating area.

"Subject to changes, if things stay the same it'll (Kempsey Cup) go ahead," Mr Graham told the Argus.

"At the moment we expect to hold a crowd of 500 people with a ticketed event and those tickets will have to be booked in advance.

"Sponsors of the day will have first option with tickets."

As per with hotels and clubs the race track organisers will be expected to advise all people to be sitting and abiding by social-distancing regulations.

Whilst changes are expected for crowds Mr Graham outlined that the program is scheduled as normal.

"The programs are in so it's looking good to go, there's still a lot in the air but I expect the prize money will be the same as last year," he said.

"Over the next couple of weeks we'll have a closer look at it but there shouldn't be many changes unless something drastic occurs."

Last year for the first time in recent memory, the Kempsey Cup was called off before the final race was run due to the presence of smoke and ash in the air from a horrible bush-fire season with visibility and air quality at unsafe levels.