Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced changes to race times at this weekend’s The Valley, bet365 Edenhope Cup and Moama Bowling Club Echuca Cup meetings owing to the hot weather forecast.
The Valley, Friday 8 March
As previously advised, a decision on whether Flemington’s Super Saturday race times are brought forward will be announced tomorrow morning (Friday, 8 March).
Given the possibility that this could occur, the decision has been made to start and finish Friday night’s meeting at The Valley earlier to allow participants additional time to prepare for racing on Saturday.
All race times at The Valley have been brought forward 30 minutes. The meeting will now begin at 5.15pm and conclude at 9.15pm.
Edenhope, Saturday 9 March and Echuca, Sunday 10 March
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has currently forecast the temperature to reach 39 degrees at Edenhope late on Saturday afternoon and 39 degrees at Echuca on Sunday afternoon.
In the interests of participant and horse welfare, both meetings will start in the morning to avoid racing in the hottest part of the day. The earlier race times for these meetings are as follows:
Edenhope, Saturday 9 March
Race 1: 10.29am
Race 2: 10.59am
Race 3: 11.29am
Race 4: 11.59am
Race 5: 12.29pm (bet 365Edenhope Cup)
Race 6: 1.01pm
Race 7: 1.36pm
Race 8: 2.11pm
Echuca, Sunday 10 March
Race 1: 10.45am
Race 2: 11.15am
Race 3: 11.45am
Race 4: 12.15pm
Race 5: 12.45pm
Race 6: 1.20pm
Race 7: 1.55pm (Moama Bowling Club Echuca Cup)
Race 8: 2.30pm
RV wishes to acknowledge and thank the Moonee Valley, Edenhope and Echuca Racing Clubs for their assistance in making these important changes.
The meetings at Towong (Saturday), Hinnomunjie (Saturday), Balnarring (Sunday) and Stony Creek (Sunday) will proceed as afternoon meetings at this time owing to lower forecast temperatures.
RV will continue to monitor the forecasts in these locations over the next 24-48 hours to ensure they remain suitable for an afternoon start and amend accordingly if not.
RV’s procedure for Racing in Hot Weather Policy is enacted at all meetings where hot weather conditions are forecast to ensure the health and wellbeing of horses and participants.