A huge storm swept over the city early on Wednesday night, with 62mm of rain record, before approximately 30mm more from another storm on mid-Thursday morning.

Lightning around the area also threatened the meeting, but armed with the knowledge the track handles rain better than most, stewards held their nerve and all eight races of the meeting were run on a Heavy10 rating.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club CEO Jason Ferrario said it was another endorsement for the facility. It is likely most regional tracks would have been unable to race.

"We had 62mm of rain overnight, we inspected it at 6am this morning and declared it a Heavy8. Then that nasty storm came through mid morning, and it wasn't looking so good," Ferrario said.

"But the weather forecast did suggest it was going to clear, and there would be a gap between race one up to about race six

"To think we got about another 30mm in between 10.30am and 12.30pm, but from race one the track played great.

"Hats off to the track staff and (racecourse manager) Mark Hart. It's a great example of how good the drainage is here."

A number of Southern District meetings were washed out before Christmas, which made officials more determined to race.

"I hope it makes the trainers who travel a fair distance feel better, because it's a tricky one. We're glad we were able to (race) for those people," Ferrario said.

"The lightning was the biggest concern. It was a bit of a holding pattern this morning, but ultimately the stewards made the right call."

Wodonga trainer Peter Maher also gave the track a rap after his $23 outsider Broadside Armour saluted in a Class 2 Handicap (1000m)

"It's an amazing track, Mart Hart does a great job here and it's a credit to him and the club that we're even racing really," he said.

A number of outsiders relished the wet conditions. Michael Travers' $19 hope Estverdi won the opening race, a Class 2 Handicap over 1600m, while Mark Gee's Garda Force ($81) saluted in a Maiden Handicap (1600m).

One of the best performances of the day was produced by Gwennybegg, with Wagga apprentice Molly Bourke guiding the Georgie Boucher-trained mare ($5) to a comfortable win in the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1800m.

Bourke took the six-year-old to the front straight away, and she produced the goods to back up an 11-length win at Tumut on Boxing Day.

"I haven't seen a horse that's got a bigger heart. She doesn't stop," Bourke said.

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