News

Heat on VRC to delay Flemington meeting

29th Jan 2009

Herald Sun - By Tim Habel and Matt Stewart - Friday, January 30, 2009

TOMORROW's Lightning Stakes meeting at Flemington will be delayed until Sunday unless the weather bureau can today confirm some relief from the brutal 40C-plus temperatures.

The bureau has forecast a drop from today's 43C to 35C tomorrow.

Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said the Lightning Stakes meeting was under review with a decision to be made as soon as possible today.

Victoria Racing Club chief executive Dale Monteith said the contingency plan was to race on Sunday.

The big heat claimed yesterday's Ballarat races and Bendigo greyhounds and today's Betfair Park meeting.

"It is regrettable but it is the best for all in these exceptional circumstances," Hines said.

RVL toyed with a 9am start at Betfair Park, but the bureau said it would be a minimum 37C by 10am.

Trainers Ross McDonald and Greg Eurell said they were concerned about the effect of the heat on glamour $500,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes runners Weekend Hussler and Apache Cat.

"It's a guessing game, we won't know until after the race," McDonald said.

Acting chairman of stewards Allan Reardon said McDonald's request that all Flemington runners be allowed to arrive on course one hour before they race - instead of two - would be discussed today.

Several other trainers were concerned the heat may affect runners. "No doubt," Mick Price said.

"I really want to kick off the likes of Gallica, Heart Of Dreams and Pre Eminence but I won't hesitate to scratch. We all love our horses and they must come first."

Fellow Caulfield trainer Peter Moody said it was a case of common sense. "We've done everything we can to keep them cool, swum them a lot."

Lee Freedman said it had been "bloody hot" at his Rye stables. "Most will cope, some might not."

Flemington racecourse manager Mick Goodie has already applied a record 56mm irrigation to the track and will add at least another 20mm overnight.

Goodie said he was aiming for a "high" dead 4 reading.

Yesterday's Geelong harness meeting went ahead despite a searing 45C.

Champion driver Chris Alford said it was "unacceptable it's going ahead. Surely they have to draw the line somewhere".

But Harness Racing Victoria chief John Anderson said there had been no complaints or incidents at Geelong.

He said there were subtle differences between the codes.

"Jockeys waste and drivers don't and maybe the breed (standardbred) might be a bit more conducive to the conditions."