Lightning strikes force delay to racing on Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington

Horses were behind the barriers for the Melbourne Cup-qualifying Group 3 The Bart Cummings when stewards ordered the runners back to their stalls after lightning struck close to Flemington racecourse.

Lightning strikes near Flemington racecourse on Saturday. Picture: Twitter / 7 Horse Racing

Lightning close to Flemington has forced an indefinite delay to the races on Group 1 Turnbull Stakes Day.

Horses were behind the barriers for the Melbourne Cup-qualifying Group 3 The Bart Cummings when stewards ordered the runners back to their stalls.

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Under Racing Victoria’s safety policy there must be a clear 30-minute window without lightning for stewards to consider resuming the meeting.

The 30-minute starts after each lightning strike.

Just before 4pm, stewards cancelled the indefinite delay advice for the Bart Cummings. New race times were announced for race 7 (4.25pm), race 8 (4.55pm), race 9 (5.20pm) and race 10 (5.50pm).

New provisional race times from @FlemingtonVRC

Race 7 - 4.25
Race 8 - 4.55
Race 9 - 5.20
Race 10 - 5.50

— Racing Victoria (@RacingVictoria) October 5, 2024

Friday night’s meeting at The Valley was abandoned after three races due to repeated lighting strikes in the vicinity.

Originally published as Lightning strikes force delay to racing on Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington