MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club chief executive Steve Keene says the club has fielded a boost in nominations for Thursday's Wagga meeting, but doesn't expect splitting races to occur.
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Albury's meeting scheduled for Friday has been postponed until Monday due to poor visibility. Bushfire smoke also forced the cancellation of New Year's Day racing at Gundagai, while Tumut's first TAB meeting in almost two decades scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until January 18.
Moruya and Sapphire Coast meets have also been affected, while Wednesday's scheduled meeting at Canberra is no certainty given the poor air quality in the national capital.
"We've got slightly higher than normal nominations, they're really strong," Keene said.
"It's probably right on the cusp but we wouldn't have to worry about split. But they'll be really strong fields.
"The south coast trainers in particular would be feeling the pinch. Hopefully things have improved by then and we can move forward."
Smoke engulfed Wagga on Thursday morning and Keene conceded they would need improved conditions by Thursday to race.
"If we got a day like today, I don't think anyone would race," Keene said.
"It's a wait and see situation, hopefully we get favourable wind conditions and some better weather comes to the areas affected.
"No one likes to see people suffering but fingers cross this can pass and by Thursday we'll be able to hold our meeting.
"All of NSW racing is virtually in the lap of the weather gods at the moment."
Tumut trainer Kerry Weir said the backlog of horses unable to find a race is growing.
Weir had planned to run some of his horses at Tumut this Saturday, but now hopes to send as many as possible to Wagga.
"All mine will head to Wagga, and then they'll back up here (Tumut) on the 18th," he said.
"There's going to be a big backlog of horses (wanting to race) in Wagga next week."
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