Races called off after rain
After some jockeys struggled to see in race two at Riverton yesterday, officials agreed to abandon the remainder of the programme.
Jockeys on horses midfield or further back copped splashback from front runners flicking up muddy water left on the track from heavy rain.
Christchurch rider Sam Wynne said she had trouble seeing at times.
‘‘If you were in front or out wide, it was okay but if you were in behind another runner there was hardly any visibility.’’
She knew of one jockey who had three sets of goggles in race two to enable him to replace them as they got splattered.
Splashback wasn’t too much of a problem in race one because there were only six starters, but with 11 horses in race two, it was a concern and jockeys spoke to stewards.
Riverton Racing Club president Barry Leith said the remaining seven races could be rescheduled, but a decision wouldn’t be known for a day or two.
The Great Western Steeplechase was not run yesterday and if can’t be rescheduled, it would be the first time in the race’s 112-year history that it hadn’t been held, club historian Michael Sheridan said.
A decision has yet to be made if it will go ahead.
Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler and Christchurch apprentice Kin Kwo combined to win the two races yesterday, with Galway Garry and Lil Miss Swiss. Premier Club Rugby: Barbarians 19, Blues 28. Pirates Old Boys 17, Marist 20. Woodlands 22, Star 15. Division One:
Riversdale 36, Waiau 7. Te Anau 11, Wyndham, 28. Edendale 17, Midlands 36. Waikaia White Star Mossburn 0.
Division 2A:
Drummond Lime Hills Star 33, Tokanui 5.
Waikiwi 24, Riverton 30. Albion Excelsior 28, Pioneer 24.
Division 2B: 17,
Wakatipu Wanderers 40, Blues 41.
Pirates Old Boys 13, Marist 19. Woodlands 10, Star 12. Division Three:
Collegiate 5, Central Pirates 29.
Bluff 67, Balfour 26.
Ohai Nightcaps 15, Mataura 17.