Request submitted to defer time-honoured Championship

WITH news filtering through about the Inter Dominion being cancelled this season, Club Menangle has provided some clarification on the situation.

Due to the huge impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry, 2020 Inter Dominion partners Harness Racing New South Wales and Club Menangle have made the decision to request a deferral for 12 months.

The rotating Championship was in its final leg of the initial three-year joint venture between Harness Racing New Zealand, Harness Racing Victoria, Harness Racing New South Wales and Club Menangle.

Harness Racing New Zealand and Harness Racing Victoria were consulted before a decision was made.

This season’s edition was scheduled to begin at Club Menangle on November 28.

Due to the unforeseeable future resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic it was decided to postpone the Inter Dominion for the betterment of the industry.

As such, the request to defer the series this season has been submitted to the Inter Dominion Executive Committee for approval.

“Given the lack of certainty about movement of horses and protocols from each state in Australia and New Zealand we felt it was in the best interest of all parties to postpone the Inter Dominion,” Club Menangle’s chief executive Bruce Christison said.

“This has been brought about by the Coronavirus crisis which has gripped the globe and is a combination of the restrictions, protocols and financial implications which have risen from this pandemic.

“To give justice to the Inter Dominion brand and provide the best scenario for all involved it was felt moving the series back a year was in order.”

With the exception of World War Two resulting in the series being cancelled between 1941 and 1946, this will be the first time the Inter Dominion has missed a season since its inception in 1936.