Racing Victoria will continue to monitor the state's Coronavirus situation after the World Health Organisation officially declared it a pandemic on Thursday.

But there are currently no plans to abandon race meetings or hold them behind closed doors.

Racing.com understands RV is keeping in close contact with the state government and is working towards a contingency plan if one needs to be rolled out.

Caulfield will host its All-Star Mile race day on Saturday with thousands of people expected to attend, while there is Group 1 racing at The Valley the following Friday (March 20) and the Mornington Cup on March 21.

The Warrnambool May Racing Carnival in early May is also highly attended over the three days.

"We are keeping abreast of the changes and the current advice that is coming from Federal and State Governments and health authorities. They're the key driver of this, they're the key people with all the relevant information and we'll respond to that," RV chief executive Giles Thompson told RSN927.

"At the moment, the advice is that it is OK for mass gatherings such as the ones we'll have this weekend and we're going ahead fully expecting them to be well attended. If that advice changes, then we will change how we race.

"My view at this point, and what we're planning for, is that if it gets to the point where mass gatherings are not allowed then we will continue to race behind closed doors without audiences.

"We believe that we can, we believe that the participants want to and they need the opportunities, and we believe as well that, through our media channels, we'll get a strong audience for that."

Thompson admitted there would be challenges if racing continued through a Coronavirus outbreak in Victoria.

"The real challenge at that point will be can we get the staff to work at those events and can the participants attend and that is something that we'll have to try and work around if it gets to that point," he said.

"I think we're a fair way from that point. I note the AFL is saying they won't go behind closed doors until Round 5, which is about four or five weeks away.

"We'll continue to race as long as we can and that's what the contingency is that we're working towards."

http://www.racing.com/news/2020-03-12/news-rv-to-monitor-coronavirus-situation