The Werribee Cup has been rescheduled for December 15, after Racing Victoria decided the recently renovated track wasn’t ready to host racing.
The inside seven metres of the track underwent a major renovation after the abandonment of a meeting earlier this year.
The July 17 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 it was important the cup was not run until the track was in peak condition.
“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 taking a conservative approach and allowing the inside of the track further time to consolidate and 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 conservative approach.
“We are not prepared to take any risks and chances. I would rather have a cup that is going to go off without a hitch on a pristine turf.
“It is a case of over time building people’s confidence.”
Mr Kendell said the rescheduled cup would take the place of the racing club’s Christmas party day. He said the meet would have free entry, children’s activities and live music.
Last year’s Werribee Cup was held on the same date and attracted 4000 people.
Wednesday’s race meeting has been moved to Ballarat. The 2000-metre Benchmark 78 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.
