Harness racing will return to Auckland for the first time in nearly two months on Friday but whether open class racing also returns remains in the balance.
The reduction to level 3 for the Auckland region today means all three codes can race under strict protocols but horsepeople still can't accompany their horses to meetings because other regions are at level 2.
While that will curtail racing at Ellerslie at level 3 because of a lack of jockeys living in the Auckland region, that is not an issue for harness racing with plenty of drivers in Franklin and south of Auckland. So trainers from Waikato will be able to send their horses to Alexandra Park with a registered transporter, have them looked after by another horseperson and driven by an Auckland region driver, as Auckland trainers have done in reverse for recent Cambridge meetings.
That flow will go both ways this week, with Cambridge to race on Thursday, but many of the northern harness horses racing at the two meetings will stick to their own area.
While owners will be allowed at the Cambridge meeting, because Auckland is at level 3 the meeting will be closed to all but essential staff.