Gore is set to host its first meeting of the season after a couple of years when its future was up in the air.
But although it is a relief to have a meeting on, there will not be many people present to watch.
Under Alert Level 2, gatherings of more than 100 have been banned and NZ Thoroughbred Racing has advised the Gore club to not allow in any crowd.
That cuts out owners and sponsors. Allowed on the course are trainers, jockeys and racing officials.
Gore Racing Club president Cameron Grant said it was good to have racing back and for Gore to host a meeting.
But it was a shame the meeting could not allow in any owners or sponsors.
"It is tough, tough for everybody. We do not get to have a crowd. Get the local people along. We don’t want to make it a closed meeting, but NZTR have brought in the rules and we have to follow them," he said.
"At least it is a race meeting. It will be a strange atmosphere, but the way to look at it is at least we are running it. It could have been worse. We could have been shut."
NZTR had decided — despite the ability to make it an all ticketed affair and letting in a limited number of owners — to ban everyone from the course apart from trainers, jockeys and officials.
All bets on the course will be carried out by self-service machines.
Jockeys will also have to wear masks in the birdcage, weight room and starting gates, but will be able to take them off during a race.
Jockeys had to come from only the South Island under travel restrictions imposed by NZTR.
Gore was seen by the Messara report as being surplus to requirements, but then got a reprieve under an NZTR report.
The other racing date for Gore is January 23, while it also hosts meetings for the Tapanui and Wyndham Racing Clubs.
