Constant rain for five days through the middle of June - and 185mm in total in the month - turned the racecourse and surrounding amenities into a lake, and caused the cancellation of a thoroughbred meeting on June 20.
The track has come up remarkably well, considering rain was still taking some time to drain away even last week.
''I went away from here a Saturday a week ago [June 22], and it was still raining,'' Stuart said.
''On Wednesday, I came back and walked the track and it was still sloshing around my boots.''
Stuart rated the track as a heavy11 when he inspected it yesterday, but he will inspect the track again today with stipendiary steward Mark Davidson. A horse was also galloping the track yesterday.
''It's coming up pretty good. It's still quite heavy, but we've had wind and sunshine.''
It has been a wintry baptism of fire for Stuart, who took over the racecourse manager's role in December and has spent more time in his gumboots than out of them in recent weeks. His house, at the southern end of the racecourse, had several inches of water sitting on the property.
''Nobody is recognising me without the wet weather gear on,'' Stuart said.
Stuart thinks he has got on top of the problems at the top of the home straight on the harness track.
A pool of water creeping on to the track threatened to force officials to call off the harness racing meeting on June 16, and by the next day, the water had just about covered the whole corner of the track.
''We've blown out all the drains and I now know which way they go and which way they don't,'' he said.
''There's a wee bit more to do in the water table down there, and hopefully it doesn't rain like that again for a while.''
The temperature had reached 14degC yesterday and Stuart said the warmer weather and forecast westerly winds in the coming days would all help the track to improve before Monday.
''It was dry enough on Saturday to give it a quick trim and it's looking quite good at the moment.''
Rainwater running off the hills had also contributed to the birdcage, grass car parks and stables all becoming waterlogged, but those areas had also improved.
''It was still running down through to the birdcage last Wednesday, but it's all gone now, and it's firmed up good.
''Fingers crossed, we'll have a good day on Monday, and July is usually a good month.''
The Oamaru Jockey Club's next racing dates after Monday are July 21 and July 29.
