Race meet canned after mass shootings

Last night’s harness racing meeting at Addington Raceway has been abandoned in the wake of the tragic Christchurch shootings.

The harness racing meeting joins the third test between the Black Caps and Bangladesh in being cancelled.

A man with a gun entered a mosque on Deans Ave in Christchurch at 1.40pm. Another mosque in Linwood was attacked shortly after.

At least 30 people are feared dead. In a short statement on their Facebook page, Addington Raceway confirmed Friday night’s racing would not go ahead.

Ten races were scheduled to be contested at Addington on Friday night.

The track is around 1.5km from the site of the Deans Ave mosque.

‘‘We are thinking of everyone at this time in Christchurch,’’ Addington Raceway’s statement said.

‘‘Please stay inside and stay safe. ‘‘For those who have not heard, we are not racing tonight.

‘‘Take care everyone,’’ the statement said.

Earlier, a greyhound meeting at Addington was completed despite the last race not running until just after 3pm.

Netball New Zealand has cancelled a Beko Netball League match between Hellers Mainland and the Northern Comets which was due to be played tomorrow at the Lincoln Events Centre at 1pm.

Meanwhile, Warriors CEO Cameron George has confirmed there will be a minute’s silence at Mt Smart Stadium before Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs.