Trainer David O'Prey has vented his frustration at crowds still not being able to attend Victorian racetracks.
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Racing Wodonga could be one of the last clubs to race on Friday without crowds after Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula revealed that punters could be on track as soon as next week.
Ironically the Border's two biggest meetings could be one of the first and last affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
Albury Racing Club was left with a huge bill of almost $200,000 in March for its race day infrastructure including marquee hire after punter's were banned a week before the big event.
Racing NSW welcomed back crowds during the spring carnival while Victoria has been without spectators since March.
O'Prey jokingly suggested Racing Victoria needed to get in contact with the CEO of Bunnings.
"I think Racing Victoria should give the CEO of Bunnings a call and work out how they are allowed to get crowds back," O'Prey said.
"It's ironic that Corowa ran a successful little meeting on Melbourne Cup eve with a crowd and I'm pretty sure they have only got a part-time secretary, yet they were still able to make it work.
"I know that's Racing Victoria rules but the two governing bodies seem miles apart with Albury allowed to have crowds and it's only 12km from the Wodonga racecourse.
"It's surely not too hard to flick the switch and go back to COVID-19 normal.
"The people I'm most disappointed for is the owners and members who have been paying up for their horses.
"The Ascot carnival started last weekend and their were punters hanging over the fence everywhere after Willie Pike won the feature."
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Pakula told RSN the three racing codes needed to work through a process with the state's health officials before punters were allowed to attend race meetings again.
"Basically, we have a public events framework in place where organisations that want to put on events make applications, submit COVID-safe plans and get ticked off," Pakula said.
The final fields for the eight race card including the $100,000 Gold Cup will be released early on Wednesday morning.