Early start, early finish at Caulfield Heath to avoid Boxing Day heat

The eight-race Boxing Day meeting at Caulfield Heath will proceed with revised race times to avoid the extreme heat that’s forecast for Melbourne on Thursday.

Horses race at Caulfield Heath racecourse on December 18. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

The eight-race Boxing Day meeting at Caulfield Heath will proceed with revised race times to avoid the extreme heat forecast for Melbourne on Thursday.

With the Bureau of Meteorology currently forecasting a maximum temperature of 40 degrees in Melbourne on Thursday, Racing Victoria has advised the first race for the Caulfield Heath meeting will be run at 11.15am.

The final race on the card will be run at 3pm, ensuring horses and participants will be able to avoid the hottest part of the day.

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The revised race times for Caulfield Heath on Thursday are:

• Race 1: 11.15am
• Race 2: 11.45am
• Race 3: 12.15pm
• Race 4: 12.45pm
• Race 5: 1.15pm
• Race 6: 1.50pm
• Race 7: 2.25pm
• Race 8: 3pm

The meeting scheduled for Drouin will also proceed with revised race times, with the first at 11.55am and the sixth and final race at 2.40pm.

However, given the forecast of heat and fires for the region, the meeting scheduled at Nhill will be rescheduled to Sunday, December 29.