The Valley abandoned due to extreme heat with float travel behind decision

Horses expected to travel in floats during the hottest part of the day was a significant factor in the decision to abandon the thoroughbred night meeting at The Valley.

The sweltering conditions forecast for Friday has another casualty with the thoroughbred meeting at The Valley abandoned.

The decision to call off the meeting was made in the best interests of horse and participant welfare, particularly with temperatures forecast to reach 43C in Melbourne.

Racing Victoria and the Moonee Valley Racing Club abandoned the meeting after consultation with the RV veterinary department, Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Trainers Association and Victorian Jockeys Association.

The BOM has forecast that temperatures will reach 43C on Friday and remain in the high 30s until a predicted cool change around 10pm.

The race meeting was scheduled to start at 7pm and end at 10.30pm.

RV executive general manager Greg Carpenter, said: “The weather conditions forecast tomorrow are extreme and following consultation with our vets and the BOM it was determined that abandoning the meeting was the most appropriate decision for the welfare of our horses and participants.

The thoroughbred meeting at The Valley has been called off due to the extreme heat forecast.

“The hottest part of the day is predicted to be late afternoon when many horses would be required to travel and the temperature is predicted to be around 40C when the meeting is scheduled to start at 7pm.

“With a significant amount of race meetings scheduled over the Christmas-New Year period, we have decided not to reschedule the meeting.”

Melbourne reached a scorching 40.1C just after 4pm on Wednesday, while the state’s northwest cracked the mid-40s as Walpeup hit 44.3C.

Melbourne could on Friday record its hottest December day, with the record of 43.7C set in 1876.