ORGANISERS of today's Caulfield Cup have defiantly refused to postpone the race despite appalling weather and calls from leading racing figure Lloyd Williams to shift the event, reports The Age.It says: As storms lashed Melbourne and with further showers and hail predicted for this morning, Racing Victoria Ltd chief executive Rob Hines would not concede the cup - the second biggest Saturday meeting for betting for the year - might be lost or postponed.''At this point in time there is no way that
ORGANISERS of today's Caulfield Cup have defiantly refused to postpone the race despite appalling weather and calls from leading racing figure Lloyd Williams to shift the event, reports The Age.
It says: As storms lashed Melbourne and with further showers and hail predicted for this morning, Racing Victoria Ltd chief executive Rob Hines would not concede the cup - the second biggest Saturday meeting for betting for the year - might be lost or postponed.
''At this point in time there is no way that the Caulfield Cup meeting will be transferred or abandoned,'' he said. ''The track is currently a heavy 9 (the second highest rated level of wetness), but it is safe and in good condition.''
Advertisement: Story continues below This comment stunned Mr Williams, who said racing administrators were being naive, short-sighted and unresponsive to consumer demand by not shifting the meeting to Sunday.
''Racing administrators need to show some judgment and move the meeting to Sunday, where we should at least have some respite [from the rain].
''From a marketing viewpoint, to bury your head in the sand and be so determined to race with these sorts of appalling conditions is being absolutely naive.''
The Bureau of Meteorology's forecast for today hardly gives much hope of an improvement in conditions. Up to 40,000 racegoers are expected at the track, but the temperature is expected to reach just 15 degrees and winds are predicted to gust up to 35km/h.