Ballarat is one of five tracks in a statewide country region created for the next six weeks to maintain separation between participants inside and outside the Melbourne metropolitan area locked down to combat the spread of COVID-19.

As well as Bray Raceway, racing in the country region will be at Bendigo, Shepparton, Terang and Stawell.

Trainers based in the Melbourne metropolitan area and Mitchell shire to the north will race at Melton, Cranbourne and Kilmore.

Mildura will standalone as it did in the initial model.

These are the same nine clubs which have been hosting race meetings since April.

Trainers from inside the metro region with acceptors for the Ballarat meeting will have their horses scratched.

The return to region racing comes just nine days after Harness Racing Victoria re-opened racing on a statewide basis after operating under two region-based models since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in March.

A revised July racing calendar will be issued by HRV on Thursday.

Saturday night's Melton meeting has been abandoned and will be replaced by a Bendigo fixture.

Bendigo will now race on Saturday night.

Metropolitan races carrying $20,000 or more stakemoney will be scheduled where possible in both the regional, and Melbourne and surrounds regions.

HRV chief executive officer Dayle Brown said HRV had been clear since March that flexibility was required during COVID-19.

"Our people's health and wellbeing are always the top priorities.

"Our regional model saw us successfully and safely negotiate the period from April to July. Having that model developed and on hand has allowed us to pivot quickly following the announcements from the Premier.

"All of our stringent COVID-19 protocols will remain in place and must be adhered to. We are communicating regularly with all industry stakeholders and will continue to follow the advice of the State Government and the chief health officer," Brown said.

"Importantly, all decisions are being made in collaboration with the Harness Racing Advisory Council, Victorian Trainers and Drivers Association, Harness Breeders Victoria, Victoria Harness Racing Club, Trots Clubs Victoria and other key industry stakeholders.

"The overwhelming feedback my team has received from industry participants in the past 48 hours is that they want to continue racing, but also want to feel as protected as possible at the races.

"Our participants and staff are the people on the roads and attending the races and their views must be respected," he said.