Rain washes out Riverton's big race day

Slashing puddles on the Riverton racetrack forced the abandonment of its Great Western Hurdles and Steeplechase race day yesterday.

Officials were left with no option but to abandon racing after heavy rain teamed down on what was already a very heavy track. 

The meeting would not be re-run on another day, Gallop South administrator Jo-Ann Gordon said.

It is hoped a jumpers’ flat race and other events could be held at Wingatui, on Friday, she said.

That left surface water that splashed back and left riders unable to see in front on them in the two races that were held before the abandonment.

“Just before the first race we started to get very heavy rain,’’ stipendiary steward Mark Davidson said.

Jockeys voiced their concerns to officials after the first race was won, but it agreed racing was able to continue.

Further heavy rain leading in to race two saw the Riverton track deteriorate even further.

‘’The rain continued and they had got about 10ml in an hour, all it had done is full up the hoofmarks from the previous race and it started to pond on the track,’’ Davidson said.

‘’[The jockeys] were getting quite a bit of splashback and if you are in amongst the field you had no visibility.’’

Waiting for a break in the weather was an option considered by officials.

But track inspections made it apparent that holding racing on the track was an impossibility because of its surface water, Davidson said.

Both of the two races that were able to be run yesterday were won by trainer Kelvin Tyler and rider Kin Kwo.

The pair scored with Galway Garry and Lil Swiss Miss, who both relished the condition of their waterlogged home track.
 

Add a Comment