Rain cuts meeting short

Yesterday's Wingatui thoroughbred meeting was abandoned after one race.

Steady light rain, which fell on the track during and in the lead-up to the meeting, caused the racing surface to become slippery and unsafe.

That left officials with no option but to abandon the rest of the day's programme, stipendiary steward Mark Davidson said.

During the first race on the Otago Racing Club's nine-race programme, Sir Ed, ridden by apprentice Corey Campbell, was seen to slip when leaving the home straight with approximately 1800m of the 2200m distance to run.

After the race, which was won by Shezatoucher and rider Kylie Williams, several jockeys expressed concern about the safety of the track, Davidson said.

After a track inspection stewards were left with no option but to call off the remaining eight races.

''Clearly that horse slipped badly in the first [race],'' Davidson said.

''I would also add that it was not negotiating the bend the best, but it should not have slipped that badly.

''When we got back [after the race] several other riders expressed concern that their mounts had moved . . .in the ground.

''With the continuing misty drizzle, after a track inspection where the clear slip marks are evident, we were never in a position to be able to continue the meeting.''

Davidson described the track as being in an excellent condition prior to yesterday's meeting.

''I have walked this track and it has been in great racing order recently.''

Stewards were unanimous in their opinion that the track was unsafe.

Though not everyone on course may have agreed with that assessment, safety had to come first, Davidson said.

''Not everybody is going to go home happy, but everyone is going to go home.''