Relief as race day moves to Monday

CAIRNS Jockey Club are pleased not to lose their ninerace meeting originally set for this afternoon, with the meeting rescheduled until Monday.

Racing Queensland and Queensland Racing Integrity Commission made the call yesterday morning to postpone the meeting until Monday.

The postponement was a result of the recent weather events in North Queensland which have compromised logistics for the conduct of the race meeting.

“The Cairns Jockey Club meeting set down for Saturday has been postponed and may go ahead depending on weather conditions on Monday,” QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett (pictured) said. The Cannon Park racecourse was rated a Heavy 10 when they inspected the track.

CJC general manager John Cameron said it was disappointing to have to postpone the meeting but was pleased to be able to hold on to it.

North Queensland tracks such as Mareeba and Townsville have lost meetings over the past month because of the heavy rain.

“The track was a heavy 10 and we could have raced on it but the problem was the logistics of everything,” Cameron said.

“QRIC want to have a senior steward on the track when the track is as heavy as it is and it made more sense to race on Monday, when a senior steward could be on course.

“We are still racing the nine races, with two races transferred from the recent Mareeba meeting, so it is a positive for the industry that these races are not being lost.”