Timaru races abandoned

Friday’s Timaru races have been abandoned joining a growing recent list of cancellations or postponements.

The track was inspected on Thursday by the Racing Integrity Unit and club representatives prior to the decision being reached. The saturated track received more rain on Thursday with pooling of water on several parts of the track making racing impossible. NZTR, together with the club, are looking at rescheduling opportunities. Rain is forecast to ease in the area tomorrow and fine weather is predicted for the following few days before the rain returns later next week.

Last weekend several meetings were hit by weather problems causing the postponements of races at Te Aroha, New Plymouth and Oamaru. Te Aroha and New Plymouth were able to reschedule to Monday and Sunday respect- ively but Wednesday’s rescheduled Oamaru races were canned. Officials involved with Saturday race meetings at Rotorua and Otaki will be keeping a wary weather eye. Steady rain was falling on Thursday at Otaki after 1mm overnight fell on a heavy11 surface.

A few showers with fresh southerlies are forecast for Friday and showers on Saturday. Rain in Rotorua on Thursday is likely to produce a heavy11 track for Saturday’s Taumarunui meeting.