Racing: Deadline extended by club

The Wellington Racing Club could cancel Saturday's fixture at Trentham unless there is an influx of additional entries.

The club last night had received just 80 nominations for Saturday's low-key meeting which puts the viability of the meeting in question.

Entries have been left open until 9.30am today, after which a decision will be made whether to continue.

Chief executive Eddie Jansen said the club would be reluctant to cancel the meeting and an alternative was to stage it with a reduced number of races.

The open class event over 1200m has already been scrapped after it attracted just four entries - two of whom had also been entered the Matamata meeting on the same day.

The open class race over 1600m also had just four entries yesterday while the intermediate grade 2100m has five.

There were three other races with six entries.

The club contacted all trainers pointing out the situation, hoping there will be an influx of entries today.

"It's very disappointing, particularly when we offer a travel subsidy," Jansen said.

"It's a tough industry. One moment you are setting records [at the Wellington Cup carnival] and the next you are searching for horses.

"February is traditionally a low horse number month and with a stretch of fine weather, a lot of horses are resting."

Jansen said the Trentham track was in top order and was rated soft yesterday with a penetrometer reading of 3.6.

"We have an obligation to run the meeting and hopefully sufficient horses will come out of the woodwork."

- NZPA