KEY POINTS:
PERTH - A swarm of locusts has forced the cancellation of race day at a country town in Western Australia with "millions" of the insects invading the track.
The locust plague eating its way through south-western WA reached the wine growing town of Mount Barker two days ago.
Mount Barker Turf Club secretary Bob Mason said seven horse races were due be held today but there were so many locusts on the track the meeting was cancelled.
"It would have been a hazard to both horse and rider," Mr Mason said.
"Too many locusts in the air, millions of them, the horses would by shying, you wouldn't be able to breathe properly in the midst of them, terrible."
Mr Mason said the priority now was to protect the track.
"Obviously, it's disappointing from our perspective, but our focus now is on maintaining the integrity of the track because we obviously don't want that eaten out because our next race meeting is on New Year's Eve.
The locust plague has been moving steadily south with race day at Narrogin, north of Mount Barker, cancelled last week.
To make up for the two cancellations, Racing and Wagering WA has scheduled an extra race in Albany, farther south from Mount Barker, on Sunday.
"They're moving south, so hopefully Albany will get a race meeting in on Sunday before the locusts arrive," Mr Mason said.
- AAP
