Winx cools heels as heat delays meet
SYDNEY’S searing summer heatwave has forced racing officials to take unprecedented action and postpone for 48 hours the feature Apollo Stakes meeting set for Randwick today.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said last night the welfare concerns for horse and rider, given the forecast for extreme weather, had left him with no alternative but to switch the Randwick meeting to Monday when the weather will be much cooler. Sydney’s super mare Winx was among the elite gallopers scheduled to resume in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick today.
She will take her place in the field on Monday.
The hot weather also caused today’s Kembla Grange races to be abandoned. The Grafton meeting tomorrow, which featured the NSW Country Championship Qualifier, has been moved to Monday because of an expected 44C maximum.
“Our first consideration is the safety of horse and rider,’’ V’landys said. “By making this decision, the racing industry will incur a financial loss but that did not even come into consideration when we made this decision.
“There is no price that you could put on the life of a horse or rider – we simply could not take the risk.’’
V’landys said the decision was taken after talks with the weather bureau, which has forecast 39C for Sydney today and 25C on Monday.
“The bureau was extremely helpful providing the most up-to-date and accurate predictions as to the likely conditions,’’ V’landys said.
“Racing NSW believes that animal welfare and the welfare of the participants should be the only consideration when making these decisions.’’
The Australian Turf Club confirmed the Apollo Stakes would now be run at 5.40pm (NSW time) on Monday, giving Sydney workers an opportunity to get trackside to watch the champion mare.
There will be free entry to Randwick.
Feature race meetings have been postponed or abandoned due to wet weather previously – the Australian Derby-Doncaster Day was moved from the Saturday to Monday two years ago due to the heavy track conditions – but losing a metropolitan race day due to extreme hot weather is believed to be a first for Sydney.
The mercury is forecast to reach 39C in Sydney today and combined with high humidity, it would have made conditions too dangerous for horses and jockeys.
“The combination of the heat and the humidity was going to be extreme,’’ Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.
“The wet bulb indicator would have been oppressive given these conditions.’’