Unsafe track conditions stop race meeting

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 30

Unsafe track conditions stop race meeting

PA Hamilton The Paeroa Racing Club was forced to abandon their meeting yesterday after just two races, but plans to put on an eight-race programme later in the season.

The club president, lan Patterson, said after unsafe conditions had forced the stoppage of the meeting, that a fixture of some sort would be held to replace the lost races. “We will have to see just what action is taken, but a race day will definitely be held. It may be a meeting consisting solely of maiden races with good stakes; we don’t know just yet,” he said. The P.R.C. committee, after hearing a deputation from the jockeys relating to the unsafe conditions of the track — surface water and flying mud and slush made it virtually impossible for the riders to see — decided to terminate the race day and stopped racing after the hurdle

event and a maiden 1200 m contest had been run.

The jockeys were unanimous in their decision to have the races called off. “The surface water is really bad up the back and at the 600 m mark,” said jockey David Miller, who teamed with Yes Ma’am to win the Tairua Meats Hurdles.

“It can only get worse as the day goes on and with the bigger flat fields, it will be like riding blind,” he said. Lance O’Sullivan and Grant Cooksley were of the same opinion. “It’s hopeless trying to ride out there. My mount (War Plan) was dipping and diving all over the place and was flat standing up,” said O’Sullivan. Results PA Paeroa Weather showery; track TAIRUA MEATS HURDLES

$6000; 2900 m. 3-2 YES MAAM (5) 65

D. Miller 1 6-6 ADONIS (7) 64 T. Wheeler . 2 1- STAR GOLD (2) 65.5 T. Autridge 3 Others in finishing order: 2-1 Farthing, 4-4 Lazania, 7-8 Flash Face, 9-9 Kiwi Challenge, 10-10 Barachel, 8-7 Charlie Karl, 5-5 Shakatak (pulled up). 3 len, 8 len, 2 len. Time: 3:42.28. Win: $4.40. Places: $1.55, $3.40, $1.65. Quinella: $2B. Trifecta: $96.75. GIBSON PRINTERS SUPPLIES MAIDEN $5000; 1200 m. 2- CROWN SYMBOL (1) 55 M. Coleman ... 1 11-11 MR NIBLET (3) 55 W. Robinson 2 1-2 WAR PLAN (4) 55 L. O’Sullivan 3 Others in finishing order: 6-6 Renounceable, 3-3 Versailles, 13-13 Omagh Girl, 9-9 Guv’s Vice, 5-8 The Organist, 12-12 Taksino, 4-4 Border Fox, 14-14 Battle Pike, 10-10 Patches, 1515 Our Tarrago, 8-7 Tainuia Kid, 16-16 Comedy Act, 7-5 Texas Red. % len, 3 len, 21/ len. Time: 1:20.23. Win: $4.65. Places: $l.BO, $6.60, $1.90. Quinella: $51.45. Trifecta: $406.25. Meeting abandoned after second race because of an unsafe track.