The Victorian racing industry will mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 for all staff and people involved with horse racing by the end of November.
The governing body, Racing Victoria, has announced that all staff, including trainers, jockeys, and race day officials, who attend Victorian racecourses, will need to get their first vaccination by October 16.
Racing Victoria CEO Giles Thompson said the rule would not affect race spectators yet, but it needed to prepare the industry for when people were allowed back to watch horseracing.
"It's increasingly likely for events as the state government has articulated, they are going to have environments where no jab no entry for particular events and we need to prepare the industry for that," Mr Thompson said.
It comes after industry consultation found 67 per cent were already fully or partially vaccinated, but 8 per cent did not plan to get the jab at all.
Mr Thompson said whether race spectators needed to be vaccinated would be up to individual clubs.
"We have been racing for 18 months through the pandemic and we've only lost a day and a half."
Bendigo Jockey Club CEO Aaron Hearps said it was a progressive move by Racing Victoria.
"I think it's ultimately to protect the safety and wellbeing of all the participants," he said.
Mr Hearps said mandatory vaccination for spectators to attend race meets would probably be inevitable.
"I think vaccinations will be mandatory in the event space," he said.
"Whether that'll mean different sections for those who have been vaccinated and haven't been vaccinated, those decisions are yet to be made."
Churchill picnic jockey Caitlin King said the move was fantastic in assuring complete protection for the wider community.
"It's a fantastic idea to have us all vaccinated and protecting not only those in our industry but also our families and staff."
Bendigo horse trainer Josh Julius said when it came to health advice and mandatory vaccinations, he would be guided by the professionals.
"When a vet tells me to vaccinate a horse, I vaccinate a horse without a second thought," he said.
Mr Julius said there was widespread support across the industry for mandatory vaccinations.
"It's been a huge effort to keep us afloat and keep working," he said.
"As an industry participant, I think the majority have been doing the right thing and will keep doing the right thing to make sure we can keep going."
Mr Thompson and Racing Victoria remained hopeful that towards the end of the spring racing season that crowds would start to return, potentially by the Melbourne Cup.
"Flemington [race course] can take 110,000. We certainly won't be anywhere near that, but we're hoping to get several thousand on track," he said.
