cox plate crowds back flip ! wtf going on??, page-12

The racing industry lobbied state governments to allow them to continue on the basis that the bulk of the work in the industry needs to be carried out irrespective of whether the races take place. Exercising, grooming and feeding the animals takes a few hours per day, while the race might take a couple of minutes. If people weren't exercising the horses, it takes about 3 months beyond the time when restrictions are lifted for the horses to be fit enough to race again. It was on the basis that racing could be conducted safely according to a Covid safe plan (which it was), and that the industry would suffer beyond the time when restrictions are lifted that racing was allowed to continue. That racing provides a revenue stream to government through taxation on gambling probably didn't hurt either.

Reaper.