Exemptions to key broadcast and production personnel to enter the territory from NSW were also not granted, prompting the club to cancel the meeting late on Wednesday night.

It's the second meeting in two months the club has been forced to cancel after persistent July rain affected drainage of the club's winter track, leaving more than $350,000 in prize money not distributed to frustrated participants.

ACT Health's decision to deny the club's request left it with only Canberra-based jockeys Kayla Nisbet, Brendan Ward, Jordan Mallyon, Akira Kajiya, Damon Budler and Teaghan Martin available to contest the meeting. None of those have ridden in a race since the territory was plunged into lockdown last Thursday.

It is understood the club could have proceeded with the meeting, as lockdown regulations still allow professional sport to go ahead, but it would have meant scratching almost half of the horses who had accepted to race.

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"It wasn't just the jockeys we were seeking exemptions for, there were other essential staff like camera operators to control the distribution of vision both on course for stewards to use for integrity matters, and also off course for Sky Channel," Canberra Racing Club chief Andrew Clark said.

"There are specific people who are trained in that role who are based in regional NSW. Those are very specific roles."

"This is a unique situation for Canberra. We're currently in the depths of the pandemic in the ACT.

"The situation we're facing this year is far more serious than the one from last year. Our first priority is to keep the health and wellbeing of our participants and the community.

"We don't want to put that at risk and we've never wanted to put that at risk, that's always our main objective."

Trackwork has been allowed to continue under strict Covid protocols since the lockdown, with about 270 horses still in work at Thoroughbred Park.

Canberra horses are also allowed to race elsewhere, but trainers and other staff are unable to travel with them to NSW, meaning alternative on-course strapping and saddling help needs to be enlisted.

"ACT Health has not supported the exemption requests for jockeys to enter the ACT for this race meeting, as this does not meet the criteria for 'essential work' that is applied to the travel restrictions," an ACT Health spokesperson said.

"The situation in the ACT is very concerning, and our exemption process is very tight. We will continue to review the situation regularly and any future requests received will be considered on a case by case basis."

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