Organisers are hopeful that this wet weather will pass over as predicted and that sunshine will break through on Saturday for the Winning Edge Presentations Hawke's Bay Gold Cup at the Hastings racecourse.
Hawke's Bay Racing general manager Andrew Castles said it would be a rain-affected surface but that it should not be too testing depending on how much rain fell between now and then.
"We are all set to go - we got all the mowing done earlier in the week as we were mindful of this weather coming through - all going well it should be a nice day on the track on Saturday."
The Hawke's Bay Cup is one of New Zealand's oldest racedays, first run 150 years ago, and Mr Castles said it had a tradition of hosting some top performers.
"Last year's winner Chenille went on to win the Auckland Cup this year - this is a time-honoured event."