With rain on top of rain forcing postponement on top of postponement, Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief executive Scott Sanbrook says he’s sick of looking at the sky and tired of calling off meetings.
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Not even a sunny Friday was able to salvage Saturday’s Wagga races. Originally postponed from Tuesday, the eight-race card was called off again following a track inspection on Friday morning.
Whether it can be moved is up to Racing NSW. And the weather. But more rain is predicted over the weekend and showers anticipated next week which could place even the next meeting, the annual Picnic races on Saturday October 1, in jeopardy.
MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said the rainfall figures have been staggering.
“Up until the end of August we’d already had 397mm for the year (more than the total annual rainfall in 2013 or 2014) and on top of that we’ve had 150mm in the in the first 20 days of this month,” Sanbrook said.
The club has cancelled more meetings this year than in the last four years, with six race days called off. One meeting was gained, moved from Albury.
Sanbrook said Racing NSW will do all it can to try to get races on but he feels for the industry participants who are copping the brunt of the weather.
“We’re extremely frustrated and the ones who feel it the most are the owners and trainers because the prizemoney isn’t going back into the coffers. You need that prizemoney cycle to continue,” he said.
Cootamundra’s October 2 meeting has also been transferred to Corowa due to this week’s flooding.
