Two NSW riders’ COVID-19 tests negative

Sydney jockeys Hugh Bowman and Tommy Berry have tested negative to COVID-19 after fears they may have been exposed.

Racing around the country was suspended on Wednesday after Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra was told by health authorities he had flown on the same commercial flight on March 12 as a person who had subsequently tested positive,

Zahra rode at the Golden Slipper meeting in Sydney last Saturday after travelling on the same charter flight as Bowman and Berry who competed at The Valley the previous night.

“Racing NSW confirms that the two NSW industry participants that had travelled on a charter flight on 21 March 2020 with an interstate participant who may have been exposed to COVID-19, have both tested negative to COVID-19,” Racing NSW said.

The result of Zahra’s test is not yet known but if it is negative racing hopes to resume as soon as possible.