TOMORROW’S Moonee Valley meeting has been changed to a twilight program.
After consulting with Moonee Valley Racing Club and mindful of the scorching 40 plus temperatures forecast tomorrow, Racing Victoria decided to change the time structure of the meeting.
Instead of the meeting starting at 1.30, it will now start at 4.35
The amended race times for meeting are as follows:
R1 – 4.35pm
R2 – 5.15pm
R3 – 5.50pm
R4 – 6.25pm
R5 – 6.57pm
R6 – 7.30pm
R7 – 8.00pm
R8 – 8.30pm
After a 40-minute break between the first and second race, the time gap between races have been condensed.
Racing Victoria stewards have amended the on-course requirement for all horses from two hours to one hour prior to their respective races.
Racing Victoria’s Racing Operations Manager Paul Bloodworth said the decision to push the meeting back by three hours had been made in the interests of participant safety.
“The safety and wellbeing of our equine and human participants is our first priority in reviewing meetings in hot weather conditions,” Bloodworth said.
“We have been consulting closely with the Bureau of Meteorology and temperatures will be high tomorrow from the early morning so bringing the meeting forward wouldn’t provide any relief for our participants.
“However, a cool change is expected to reach Melbourne in the early evening so commencing the meeting at the later time of 4.35pm means the majority of the race card should be run in more comfortable conditions.
“RV’s heat policy procedures will also be enacted at The Valley tomorrow and the on-course conditions will be closely monitored by Stewards and veterinarians to ensure the meeting is conducted safely.” (Racing Network)