Iconic Adelaide River Cup abandoned for third time in four years following significant rain

An iconic cup meet has been abandoned for the second time in as many years after significant rainfall ruined the turf track.

An iconic Top End race meet at a rural track will be abandoned for the third time in four years following significant rainfall and lasting damage.

The Adelaide River Cup was scheduled for June 3, but the grass track was deemed unsafe to use after a particularly heavy wet season, in which 1.7m of rain fell on the Territory’s only turf track.

Thoroughbred Racing NT representatives and club officials decided the track was unsafe to run on last week also citing historic damage from invasive feral pigs.

The race normally attracts thousands of spectators to the small town 110km south of Darwin.

It’s not the first time the Adelaide River Cup has been abandoned in recent times after it was cancelled in 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak.

The 2015 Adelaide River Cup was won by White Sambuca with jockey Kayla Cross. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Last year’s meet also had to be abandoned after feral pigs broke onto the track causing catastrophic damage to the surface.

Like in 2022, this year’s races will be relocated to the Fannie Bay racetrack with the same programme on June 3.

TRNT chief executive Andrew O’Toole said he was disappointed the meet had to be moved again, but that it was unsafe for horses and jockeys to run on.

He said the board would meet in Alice Springs this weekend to discuss the potential of moving the meet to later in the year to avoid the wet weather.

The Kym Hann trained Our Destrier with jockey Stan Tsaikos aboard won the Adelaide River Cup in 2022 after the meet was moved to Darwin because of feral pigs. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

“Looking at the track it would have been impossible to race on this, we want to race on it but it’s not safe,” he said.

“It is hoped that TRNT and the club can look at possibly moving the date of the meeting later in 2024 to avoid the wet that has unfortunately affected this year’s renewal.

“The majority of horses that would normally race at Adelaide River are trained in Darwin.

“So the retention of the race day, so as not to inconvenience horses and participants preparing for the upcoming Darwin Cup Carnival, is crucial.”

The announcement comes ahead of the Alice Springs Cup set to be raced on Sunday to cap off a carnival which has seen plenty of participants head to Pioneer Park.

“We’re expecting a good meeting on Sunday with nine races on the card including the Cup and the Pioneer Sprint,” O’Toole said.

“Numbers have been great throughout the Alice Springs Cup Carnival.”