Calls to replace lost race meets

CAIRNS Jockey Club’s boss is urging Racing Queensland to hand north Queensland two more race dates before the end of the season after another was lost to rain.

Cannon Park’s race meeting scheduled for Saturday was abandoned due to the state of the track following a further 32mm of rainfall on Friday evening.

Cairns’ loss follows Townsville losing two meetings in February due to floods, while Home Hill also lost a meeting because of rain.

CJC general manager John Cameron (pictured) believes two extra race meetings are necessary.

“After all the meetings that have been cancelled in the region due to wet weather, the region warrants one or two extra race meetings before the end of the racing calendar year,” Cameron said.

“We have trainers, owners and jockeys miss out on prizemoney and income.

“The region has been significantly disadvantaged, it will not cost the industry any more prizemoney because they have not distributed it from lost days.

“The region requires one or two more meetings to be fair to our stakeholders.”

Cameron pointed towards June, where there are some free dates, as possible opportunities for rescheduled dates.

As a result of the abandonment on Saturday, additional races have been programmed for the non-Tab meeting at Atherton on Saturday, April 13.

The additional races are: QTIS 3yo Benchmark 60 Handicap 1000m $7450 plus QTIS and a Maiden Plate (3yo & up sw) 1000m $7450.

Nominations for the Atherton non-Tab meeting close at 11am tomorrow.

If numbers warrant such, Racing Queensland said they will be aggressive with divisions of races in the coming weeks.

Racing is expected to return to Townsville Turf Club tomorrow following February’s devastating flood event.