New meeting programmed at Wangaratta next week

Racing Victoria (RV) wishes to advise that a new race meeting has been programmed at Wangaratta next Friday, 8 May 2020.

The decision was made in order to provide opportunities for horses impacted by the abandonment of yesterday’s Wangaratta meeting due to the condition of the track owing to 70mm of rain in the preceding 24 hours.

Follow consultation with the Wangaratta Turf Club (WTC) and a review of the local weather forecast, it is expected that the Wangaratta track will be in a suitable condition to resume racing later next week.

The new eight-race program, which features five 0-58 handicaps, also takes into consideration those horses that were unable to secure a start at next Monday’s Echuca meeting for which acceptances were taken today.

Victoria’s inclement weather and heavy rain also forced the abandonment of today’s Geelong meeting and the transfer of tonight’s Cranbourne meeting to the Pakenham Synthetic meeting.

Following a review, the decision has been made not to postpone the Geelong meeting due to concerns on when the track will be in a suitable condition to resume racing given today’s weather and tomorrow’s forecast.

With meetings programmed in the region at Warrnambool on Wednesday and Werribee on Thursday, RV will await the acceptances for both meetings before determining whether further programming changes are required.

The additional period of time will also provide an opportunity to review how much rain various regions have received by the conclusion of the weekend to determine suitable racing options if an additional meeting is required.

The program for the new Wangaratta meeting is as follows:

Nominations close – 12 noon, Monday, 4 May 2020

Acceptances taken – 9.15am, Wednesday, 6 May 2020