Belmont Park meeting washed out in wild west

BELMONT Park’s Saturday meeting was abandoned on Saturday after a significant area of the track was waterlogged and deemed unsuitable for racing by stewards.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Dale Smith riding Duke of Brunswick wins Race 5 during Melbourne Racing at Moonee Valley Racecourse on June 6, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

BELMONT Park’s Saturday meeting was abandoned on Saturday after a significant area of the track was waterlogged and deemed unsuitable for racing by stewards.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards, Perth racing officials and members of the Western Australian Jockey’s Association were forced to inspect Belmont Park at 7am on Saturday after more than 80mm of rain had fallen on the racecourse since Wednesday’s mid week meeting.

“A section near the 600m was waterlogged and caused the most concern,” said RWWA chief thoroughbred steward, Brad Lewis.

“It was agreed that there were considerable risks associated if horses galloped into the badly affected areas.

“In the interests of safety and welfare to both the riders and horses it was decided to abandon the meeting.”

Perth Racing officials will undertake remedial work on the affected track area with stewards to conduct a track inspection ahead of the next scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

Sunday’s program was to feature the inaugural running of the $100,000 Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), named in honour of Jim Taylor’s former gun sprinter.

David Hunter, RWWA racing manager and chief handicapper, said the Idyllic Prince Stakes would be added to Wednesday’s mid week meeting to form a nine race card.

Originally published as Belmont Park meeting washed out in wild west