Jumps racing at Ellerslie could get the send-off it deserves with the two biggest meetings of the year being put back in the hope they can still be run over the iconic hill.
Ellerslie was set to hold the Pakuranga Hunt meeting this Sunday and the Great Northern Steeples and Hurdles on September 19, the latter to be the last jumps meeting held at Ellerslie as the hill will be developed as part of the plan to enormously boost the finances of the new club Auckland Thoroughbred Racing.
But with Auckland certain to be in Covid-19 alert level 4 for at least another eight days and possibly longer, Ellerslie bosses have been given approval to delay both major jumps meeting in the hope they can go ahead at their usual home.
That means the Pakuranga Hunt meeting moves to September 19 and the Great Northern meeting to October 3.