Too hot to stage Apollo Stakes

RAY THOMAS SYDNEY’S searing summer heatwave has forced racing officials to take the unprecedented action and postpone for 48 hours the feature Apollo Stakes meeting scheduled for Royal Randwick today.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said last night that the welfare concerns for horses and riders, given the forecast for extreme weather, left him with no alternative but to switch the Randwick meeting to Monday when the weather will much cooler.

Sydney’s super mare Winx was among the elite gallopers scheduled to resume in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick today.

She will take her place in the field on Monday.

The hot weather also caused today’s Kembla Grange races to be abandoned and tomorrow’s Grafton meeting, which featured the Country Championship Qualifier, has been moved to Monday.

“Our first consideration is the safety of horse and rider,’’ V’landys said.

“By making this decision, the racing industry will incur a financial loss but that did not even come into consideration when we made this decision.

“There is no price that you could put on the life of a horse or rider. We simply could not take the risk.’’

V’landys said the decision was taken after discussions with the Bureau of Meteorology yesterday.

“The bureau was extremely helpful providing the most up to date and accurate predictions as to the likely condi- tions,’’ V’landys said. “Racing NSW believes that animal welfare and the welfare of the participants should be the only consideration when making these decisions.’’

The Australian Turf Club confirmed that the Apollo Stakes would now be run at 5.40pm on Monday, giving Sydney workers an opportunity to get trackside to watch the champion mare. There will be free entry to Randwick.

Feature race meetings have been postponed or abandoned due to wet weather previously.

Derby-Doncaster Day was moved from the Saturday to Monday two years ago day due to the heavy track conditions, but losing a metropolitan raceday due to extreme hot weather is believed to be a first for Sydney racing.

The mercury is forecast to reach 39C in Sydney today, and combined with high humidity, it would have made conditions too dangerous for horses and jockeys.

“The combination of the heat and the humidity was going to be extreme,’’ Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.

“The wet bulb indicator would have been oppressive given these conditions.’’

Port Macquarie races will be the only thoroughbred meeting run in NSW today.

But with Grafton’s weather forecast expected to reach a searing 44c tomorrow, Racing NSW also took the proactive decision to move that race meeting to Monday. editorial@