Claude Levesque, president of the Quebec Jockey Club (QJC), sent a notice to harness racing entities in Quebec on Wednesday (July 29), stating that the QJC board members felt the risks are too great right now to allow spectators to attend the races at H3R this season.

“If admitting spectators were to lead to more cases of COVID-19 and the racecourse was then forced to suspend racing, it would be catastrophic for the industry, its jobs and even its survival,” said Levesque.

For the moment, the Quebec Jockey Club will continue to apply the same policy that is currently in progress, i.e. presenting races without spectators and continuing to apply to the paddock the same protocol approved a few weeks ago by the Public Health of Quebec.

(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)