Racing: Winter weather ruins NZ racing programme

Snow and heavy rain caused havoc to the Saturday New Zealand racing programme with two of the three scheduled meetings having to be called off.

Heavy overnight rain in Palmerston North on Friday resulted in the cancellation of Saturday's Manawatu Racing Club's (MRC) meeting at Awapuni.

This came days after the Timaru RC meeting in the South Island was called off due to heavy snowfalls and no electricity.

MRC chief executive David Jewell said the Awapuni meeting was called off after an inspection by a stipendiary steward, racing officials, trainers and jockeys.

Parts of the track was covered in surface water and one of the car parks was under water.

"It was one of those hard calls clubs have to make from time to time," Jewell said. He described the conditions as "some of the worst conditions that I've seen here in the 12 years that I have been involved".

The cancellation came too late to transfer to another venue, Jewell said.

Saturday's meeting was to have featured the $25,000 Manawatu Steeplechase and the $25,000 Awapuni Hurdles.

- NZPA