Sunday’s Otaki race-meeting has been abandoned due to two horses slipping around the 800m point during Race 3.
Stipendiary Steward Neil Goodwin made the announcement after a track inspection was conducted following the race.
“It is most unfortunate for the club as the track looked to be in perfect condition,” he said.
“We have had a series of trials on it along with a couple of horses galloping on race morning with glowing reports.
“The first two races went without anything happening however, after the top had been taken off, there is a series of slip marks at the 900m.
“It does appear there is a hard pan underneath the top of the track and there were some serious slip-marks there.
“The stewards inspected it with the trainer’s representative and senior riders and we had no hesitation in saying safety comes first and abandoned the meeting.”
The meeting was the first to be held at the venue since early February after problems identified with the racing surface meant extensive drainage work, in addition to the annual track renovation programme, were undertaken to correct those issues. – NZ Racing Desk