Confusion reigned for a couple of hours on Monday morning over whether the Gunnedah meeting had been postponed after information leaked through unofficial channels and social media.
Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said the meeting was never going to go ahead after stewards found a malfunction of the irrigation system had resulted in a section of the track over the final 80m becoming waterlogged.
It was a similar case to what had caused The Archer meeting to be called off at Rockhampton on Sunday.
Stewards had inspected the track, which was very firm other than the final 80m where water was quenching. A decision that the meeting was off had appeared on social media by mid-morning, but the only correspondence from Racing NSW Stewards came via its X handle.
Racing NSW Stewards originally tweeted at 11.31am: “Gunnedah: Stewards have identified areas of concern upon arrival. A decision will be made in respect to the meeting proceeding shortly.”
Then followed up at 11.56am: “Gunnedah: Due to a malfunction with the irrigation system which has resulted in a section of the track over the final 80m becoming waterlogged and unsuitable for racing the decision has been made to postpone today’s meeting.”
Moxon said the miscommunication had not changed the decision.
“The meeting was never going to be run, but we have protocols we have to follow to make the announcement,” Moxon said. “The stewards had ruled the surface unsafe for racing.”
“Safety and welfare are at the top of our priorities, but we considered all options of how we might have been able to run meetings, but it quickly became apparent that this would not be achievable.”
“We are well-aware that trainers and jockeys travel long distances to be at these meetings and we endeavour to let them know as soon as possible if a meeting is not going ahead.”
