Early races to beat heat

THE Caulfield meeting featuring the Blue Diamond Previews will be brought forward to avoid the anticipated hottest part of the day.

Saturday’s nine-race meeting will begin at 11am (Victorian time), two hours earlier than initially planned, with the final race to be run at 3.20pm.

A Racing Victoria spokesman said the decision had been made in the interests of horse and participant welfare with a peak of 39C predicted at 5pm.

Racing Victoria’s hotweather policy will be in place for the meeting which includes horses being on-course and in the mounting yard for reduced periods.