Wind forces early finish to race meeting

The first day of the Riverton Easter races, one of Southland's first major events since the introduction of the Orange traffic light setting of the Covid framework was put in place, was postponed due to strong winds on Saturday.

After just two races, the decision was made to call off the rest of the day just before 2pm as strong gusts up to 60kmh made riding difficult.

Although locals and visitors had arrived without the need for vaccine passports and masks in months, the conditions were too unsafe to continue the races.

"The jockeys felt they were more trying to stay on their horse than ride their horse, so the decision has been made to run the rest of the races on Monday," said Gallop South racing manager Jo Gordon.

Of the two races on the day, jockey Tina Comignaghi was first in race 1 riding Acquittal, and Jason Laking won race two on Double Prosperity.

Today’s second day of the Easter meeting will now consist of 12 races.

 - Ben Tomsett