Persistent rain and surface water put paid to the Kurow Jockey Club's annual meeting at Kurow yesterday.
The meeting was abandoned at 8.40am due to surface water on the track after an inspection by Racing Integrity Unit stipendiary steward Jeff McLaughlin and Kurow club officials.
''The inspection determined that surface water between the 1300m-1000m meant the track was unsafe for racing,'' a New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing spokesman said.
Kurow club president Simon Williamson was disappointed, as the track preparation had been timed to the minute.
''It's just one of those things - you've got to make a call, don't you?'' Williamson said.
''The track would have been perfect - but with the 40-odd millimetres of rain yesterday and 3-4mm last night, you've got to make the call when the horses are travelling from Christchurch and down south.''
A planned public unveiling of a plaque dedicated to jockey Ashlee Mundy, who died after a race fall at last year's Kurow meeting, is likely to be held at next year's meeting.
Mundy's father, Lockey, saw the plaque - situated near the winning post - on Sunday, Williamson said.
''He's seen it and they were thrilled with it.
''[The public unveiling] is probably something we want to do when the jockeys and trainers are there.''
Horses still in the fields after the 7.30am scratching deadline yesterday morning would receive $200 per starter under the meeting abandonment policy.
The number of possible races at the Central Otago Racing Club's meeting at Omakau on Friday has been increased from eight to 12, to provide opportunities for horses who were to start at Kurow.
The additional races mean a new timetable for Omakau, with an earlier 11.40am start and a 6.19pm finish, assuming there are 12 races.
