Dunkeld Cup 2022 cancelled due to poor weather

The Dunkeld Cup, known as one of the most popular country races in Victoria, has been cancelled. Find out why.

The Dunkeld Cup has been cancelled after the club received more than 188mm of rain in October. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

More than 188mm of rain has forced the cancellation of the Dunkeld Cup.

The abandonment of the iconic meeting, scheduled for Saturday week, 12 November, comes after the Covid pandemic saw the 2020 and 2021 Dunkeld Cup meetings conducted without crowds.

According to Racing Victoria, the track at Dunkeld has received 91mm of rain in the past week alone, while more than 188mm fell throughout October.

Dunkeld Racing Club manager Lisa Evans said because the site required “a lot of temporary infrastructure”, the race meet was not possible.

“Marquees, toilets, cool rooms, catering facilities, tote, and broadcast trucks require significant lead time and right now the majority of the site, including the track, has significant surface water,” she said.

“With further rain forecast over the coming week, there is insufficient drying time to enable this infrastructure to be put in place.

Vice Chairman Michael O’Shannessy told the club the track and surrounds were as wet as he had seen them for this time of year in his 53-year association with the club, Ms Evans said.

“After two years of racing without a crowd there was much excitement among club members, package holders and the local community about the return of crowds to Dunkeld,” she said.

“Our marquee and pre-purchased ticket sales were at a record level, so it is disappointing that the wet weather has forced the abandonment of this year’s bet365 William Thomson Dunkeld Cup.

“Whilst the Dunkeld races won’t be held this year, we hope that many of those who had booked to attend continue with their plans to travel to the region to support local businesses and celebrate everything that the Grampians has to offer.”

All package and pre-purchased ticket holders for 2022 bet365 William Thomson Dunkeld Cup Day will receive a full refund in the coming days.

RV will program a replacement meeting on November 12 with the location to be determined next week.