The winter blast hitting the South has forced Forbury Park Trotting Club to postpone its Thursday night meeting until Saturday afternoon.
The decision to defer the night trots was made by the club's management in consultation with Harness Racing New Zealand and the New Zealand Racing Board, Forbury Park general manager Rodney Moore said.
"The decision was made in full consultation with Harness Racing New Zealand and the New Zealand Racing Board.
"Given the unique weather situation, the club has put the safety of all horsemen and the horses and their connections first.''
The decision to postpone the meeting was made early this afternoon to give everyone enough time to change their travelling arrangements, Moore said.
That included rearranging flights for junior drivers competing in the heats of the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship.
Fields for Saturday's meeting remain the same, with only race start times having to be adjusted. The meeting would now start at 11.45am.
Roxburgh trainer Geoff Knight, who is also the vice president of the Forbury Park Club, has two horses racing at the meeting and supported the club's decision to transfer the meeting to Saturday.
"It was a decision I supported because people and horse safety come first. There would be nothing worse than if a horse truck or a car slid of the road, it is not worth risking. If we hold it on Saturday there not nearly as much risk.''
Holding the eight-race card in the prime-time Saturday afternoon racing slot on Trackside TV with the possibility of improved weather conditions could mean a windfall for the Forbury Club.
"Hopefully racing on Saturday may even be a financial advantage for the club,'' Knight said.
New Forbury Park race times for Saturday
Race 1 - 11:45am
Race 2 - 12:20pm
Race 3 - 12:52pm
Race 4 - 1:24pm
Race 5 - 1:59pm
Race 6 - 2:34pm
Race 7 - 3:09pm
Race 8 - 3:44pm