Track dry but venue drenching delays race

TOWNSVILLE’S Cluden Park proved itself one of the best drying tracks in the land this week, but will probably have to wait to be put to use again after facilities at the course were inundated with water.

Despite 1255mm of rain falling at the course in the preceding seven days, yesterday the surface was ready for racing.

“The track is in perfect condition. The going stick showed it to be a Good 4 or Soft 5 (on Wednesday) and we also mowed it,” Townsville Turf Club president Mal Petrofski said.

“We could have raced (yesterday) if it was purely based on the track.”

But while the track is in good order, facilities at the Townsville Turf Club, like thousands of other properties in the city, have felt the full brunt of the monsoonal rains that have lashed the state’s North.

The club was scheduled to race next Tuesday, but even though the course proper would be safe to race on, officials have all but conceded the venue will not be ready.

Insurers assessed the damage yesterday after floodwaters engulfed the main offices, jockeys’ and stewards’ room, QRIC offices and public bars at the course. The upstairs members’ area was also infiltrated, with water coming through the roof off the back of the relentless rainfall.

Petrofski hopes for a return to racing on February 21, with demountable buildings and a marquee planned to ensure the meeting can proceed.

“I couldn’t praise the insurers highly enough. They arrived at 9am and by midday there was work in motion,” Petrovski said.

“SKY Channel and the TAB have also been incredible. We couldn’t ask for anything more than what they are doing.”