Inclement weather forecast forces change in Alice Springs
The chance of heavy rain on Saturday has prompted the Alice Springs Turf Club to call off its race meeting at Pioneer Park on Sunday.
Mark Summers, ASTC general manager, said the decision was made around midday on Friday to basically allow trainers who are preparing their horses for the Darwin Cup Carnival to change plans.
A rainband currently engulfing the central parts of the NT is expected to intensify across the Red Centre on Saturday with possible flooding and unusually cold temperatures.
After postponing Ladies Day on Day 2 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival in April because of a torrential downpour around 10am on the Saturday morning, the ASTC rescheduled the meeting for the Monday where fine conditions prevailed.
Darwin-based jockeys were also forced to remain in town for an additional two days.
The rain on this occasion arrived in Central Australia on Tuesday, with Summers confirming that the ASTC preferred to postpone this weekend’s meeting on Friday rather than wait until Sunday.
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“We’re in a situation right at the moment where we could probably take a punt and race, and that’s just not knowing what actual rain will come,” Summers said on Friday.
“If the races were to happen today we could race – there’s nothing wrong with the track, so to speak.
“The rain this week has been persistent, but we’re expecting a lot more on Saturday and that’s why we’ve made the call today.
“Sod’s Law, you know it’s probably going to stop raining tomorrow and we’ll be sitting here on Sunday and it will be bright and sunny and we could have raced.
“There are a few trainers here getting their horses ready for the Darwin Cup Carnival and we just wanted to give them notice so that they can make alternative arrangements.
“I just wanted to give them the time and the courtesy to change their plans so that we’re not ruining their Darwin plans.
“Whether it’s more trackwork or take them up earlier and we just felt it was unfair to postpone the meeting at 10am or 11am on Sunday.
“It also costs around $5000-6000 flying jockeys and race-caller Shane Green down from Darwin.
“It’s disappointing, but we’re just postponing the meeting to the following Sunday.”
Over the years, it’s rare for a race meeting at Pioneer Park to be postponed or abandoned – the track was closed over the New Year period for maintenance.
“It’s not so much the rain, it’s just how heavy it gets in a batch,” Summers said.
“When we called off Ladies Day, two hours either side we’re racing.
“By 8.30-9am all was good, the track had been rolled and all the water was rolling off.
“By 10am, it just started to pour on the track and we couldn’t race.”
Back to back meetings at this time of year is something the ASTC could do without.
“It’s not ideal for us because the horse population moves to Darwin to follow the riches,” Summer said.
“When we’re quiet here that two week space is good because the horses back up – there will be a few drop offs the following week I’m sure.
“After liaising with Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory, David Westover, our chief steward, and myself have been busy today re-arranging staff and booking the ambulance, for example, as well as advising hospitality staff and the entertainment that they’re not required on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Summers said the hunt to replace the recently departed Dylan Bairstow as the permanent Pioneer Park race-caller continues.
Former Alice Springs race-caller Shane Green, now based in Darwin, has filled the void in recent weeks.
“Look, I’d love Shane to come down here and do it full time,” Summers said.
“I just think he’s a good caller for Alice, he’s just got that good country twang and it suits us.
“He’s been great, lovely guy.
“He is happy to commute, but that’s not the ideal solution – it’s a short-term fix.
“I’ve spoken to three other race-callers – two have said they don’t want to move to Alice Springs.
“One other I’m having conversations with, he’s overseas at the moment.”