Christmas at the Races all set

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Southland Express

Major events for Southland like the Burt Munro Challenge and Southern Field Days have been cancelled this week due to the uncertainty with COVID-19 alert levels and its crowd restrictions.

However, Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew confirmed to the Southland Express this week the club had decided to go ahead with the traditional event held at Ascot Park Raceway on December 11.

‘‘At the moment so many events have been cancelled for next year but we said no — blow it, we will run our event.

‘‘If people need to be vaccinated to attend, that’s what it will be.’’

The club was awaiting an official announcement from the Government about its vaccine certificate system which could be operational by the end of the month, he said.

However, he believed the club would need to implement the passport in order to hold the event, along with other health and safety measures.

Staff at the event would also be ‘‘COVID-19 friendly’’, he said.

‘‘It is not discrimination. It is just practicality and common sense.

‘‘I’m empathetic towards [people who do not want to be vaccinated] but I’m a pragmatic man and my pragmatic nature tells me people will need to be double-vaccinated,’’ Mr Bellew said.

‘‘That is the way...