Werribee Racing Club says it is disappointed its premier event has been moved to next month.
Thousands of racegoers were expected to flock to the Bulban Road racecourse for this afternoon’s Werribee Cup, but Racing Victoria last week rescheduled the event for Sunday, December 15.
Declaring the recently renovated track was not ready to host racing, Racing Victoria shifted today’s program to Ballarat.
As reported by the Weekly, the inside seven metres of the track underwent a major renovation after a meeting was abandoned on July 17.
The meeting was called off with eight of 10 races completed after apprentice jockey Boris Thornton was thrown into a railing when the horse he was riding, Frenchkook, put his foot in a hole on the track and broke his leg. Frenchkook was put down, while Thornton, 15, was taken to hospital with suspected leg injuries. Another horse, Adoboli, was put down after being injured in race six.
Racing Victoria chief executive Bernard Saundry said the organisation was taking a conservative approach.
“It is important for the industry and the local community that racing return to Werribee with the track in peak condition, and we are not satisfied that it would be at its optimum for next Wednesday’s meeting,” he said.
“We are allowing the inside of the track further time to consolidate, and we remain confident that it will be of the required standard for racing when the rescheduled Werribee Cup is set to run on Sunday, December 15.” Werribee Racing Club general manager Ross Kendell said while the decision to reschedule the cup for a Sunday was disappointing, he supported Racing Victoria’s decision.
“We’re not prepared to take any risks and chances. I would rather have a cup on a pristine turf that’s going to go off without a hitch.
“It is a case of over time building people’s confidence.”
In 2007, jockeys refused to race at Werribee, raising concerns about the surface. Racing didn’t return to the track until 2010 after a $5 million upgrade.
This year was meant to be the first time the Werribee Cup had been held in November since the track reopened, with the most recent cups held in January and December last year.
Mr Kendell said the rescheduled cup would take the place of the club’s Christmas party day. He said the meeting would include free entry, children’s activities and live music.
Last year’s December meeting attracted about 4000 people.
Today’s 2000-metre benchmark race that was to have been run as the Werribee Cup will retain its $80,000 stake, but will carry a different name. The remainder of the race program will be unchanged.
