Cluden races postponed
TOWNSVILLE Turf Club’s February 21 race meet will be postponed to allow for track rehabilitation work at Cluden Park.
Late last week the club, in conjunction with Racing Queensland, inspected the course after the recent floods and found root growth issues, along with weed, seed and insect infestation.
The club said the inspection showed the need for further tests relating to soil contamination.
The samples will be sent to southern laboratories shortly. A spray program will be done at the club to control weeds and grubs that have begun growing after the rain.
Townsville Turf Club president Malcolm Petrofski said after the flood waters cleared the track surface appeared to be in great condition, however the last few days of sunshine revealed evidence of weed infestation.
“A racing surface takes an incredible amount of fine tuning to make it safe for our equine athletes, so any evidence of problems needs to be nipped in the bud,” he said.
“We are absolutely focused on nursing the track through this process carefully so that our Winter Carnival can continue as normal.”
Racing Queensland will return to Cluden Park today.
However further race meetings may be delayed — contingent on results — until early April.
“We are very disappointed with the delay, but the health of the racing surface is paramount,” Mr Petrofski said.
“Any contamination caused by the unprecedented floods needs to be addressed now before it causes any long-term damage.”
A further update on the condition of the track will be distributed on the week starting February 25.
A RACING SURFACE TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FINETUNING TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR OUR EQUINE ATHLETES, SO ANY EVIDENCE OF PROBLEMS NEED TO BE NIPPED IN THE BUD MALCOLM PETROFSKI