The new facility, which links the Matilda Room to the existing grandstand, has been finished since late April. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's been closed.

WRC chief executive officer Tom O'Connor said the club couldn't wait to have the new facility open to its members and the public, but must adhere to guidelines set down by the state government and Racing Victoria.

"We've just got to wait for direction from the government and RV before we can officially open," O'Connor said.

"Under the government protocols it looks like 50 people would be allowed in the facility on June 22, but we're thinking we'll leave it to July before we have a soft opening.

"With no crowds at the races, we're working with Racing Victoria to put protocols in place to have everything ready for when crowds are allowed.

"It's disappointing we can't open the doors, but we're no different than anyone else.

"We've just got to wait until the safety protocols for the facility are put in place."

The multi-purpose facility includes a new ground floor trackside dining and presentation bar behind the mounting yard and has upgrades to kitchen, bars, viewing deck and other amenities.

COLOURFUL Colac trainer Bill Cerchi admits his career in racing is at the crossroads.

Cerchi, 65, son of the late legendary trainer Jim, is facing the toughest time of his long training career as he contemplates his future.

"It's just getting too tough for the smaller trainers," he said.

"The bigger trainers are getting bigger and the smaller ones smaller.

"I've only got four horses in work. I sacked one the other day because it could not measure up.

"It's tough because all my old owners have died or can't afford horses now.

"The racing game is all about training winners and if you don't get winners - owners forget you.

"I'm not the only trainer that is struggling. There's plenty of others in the same boat.

"The coronavirus pandemic never helped us. I had a few owners who lost their jobs because of the virus so they can't afford to have horses. It was just another knife into the side."

Cerchi - who has trained countless winners during his career including cup winners at Penshurst, Colac, Dunkeld, Coleraine and Casterton Cup - said he will make a decision about his future later in the year.

VETERAN Warrnambool trainer Merv McKenzie will head back to Ballarat in a fortnight with his consistent galloper A Good Yarn, after the six-year-old had no luck in a 1000 metre race at the track last Thursday.

A Good Yarn, ridden by apprentice jockey Matthew Cartwright, finished two lengths behind Heka Express in last week's race. But the stewards report tells the story, according to McKenzie.

The report reads: "A Good Yarn over-raced through the early and middle stages of the race. He was held up for clear running in the early part of the straight and then approaching the 200 metre mark he was accidentally struck over the head by the whip by the rider of Lady Solly. Cartwright stated that he was instructed to ride A Good Yarn where comfortable and as his mount was travelling well he allowed Lady Solly to cross his mount near the 700m. After being crossed by Lady Solly the gelding commenced to over-race and he conceded that in hindsight it may have been a better option to maintain a position racing outside the leader."

"I've just got to forget A Good Yarn ran last week," McKenzie said.

"It was a frustrating watch to see what happened.

"He got caught back in traffic which never suited and went to the line strongly. We'll head back to Ballarat in a fortnight and hope the result is different."

A Good Yarn has won five of his 18 starts.

IN-FORM trainer Lindsey Smith has his fingers crossed the winning association with champion jockey Michael Rodd continues at Warrnambool on Tuesday.

Smith and Rodd combined to win a maiden plate with Capital Zeus at Hamilton last week.

The combination teams up again with Our Wind Spirit running in a benchmark 64 at Warrnambool.

"Michael is a champion jockey," Smith said.

"It's wonderful to call on his services. He's great mates with one of my owners, Brad Spicer. I would say he'll be riding a few of Brad's horses in the future."

Rodd was based in Singapore from 2015 but, with racing shut down there because of the coronavirus pandemic, returned to Victoria to continue riding.

The talented jockey won a number of Australia's high-profile races including the 2007 Melbourne Cup on Efficient and the 2008 Cox Plate on Maldivian before taking up the riding contract in Singapore.

Rodd's other ride at Warrnambool is the Aaron Purcell-trained Sir Marengo.

JOCKEY Jason Baldock was suspended after a whip discretion at Bendigo on Saturday.

Baldock pleaded guilty to the charge that he used his whip six times more than permitted prior to the 100 metre mark.

His suspension started at midnight on May 31 and ends June 6. Stewards took into account his record and the totality of his whip use.