Randwick Civic Stakes races called off due to heavy rainfall

The $200,000 Civics Stakes and other races to be held at the Royal Randwick Racecourse have been called off due to heavy rains. The race stewards noted that the rainfall is not expected to stop any time soon, so it made sense to call the races early.  
 
It is unclear whether the $200,000 main event or if any of the other races will be rescheduled to a later date. 

“Not suitable to race” say stewards 

Chief racing steward Steve Railton delivered the bad news at 8am Saturday morning about the big upcoming Civic Stakes races.  
 
“The track is not suitable to race,” Railton said, before breaking down the track conditions and the reasons behind his decision.  
 
“We had half an inch overnight, an equal amount this morning and it is still raining. 
 
“The rain is leaving the track in a state where we can't be satisfied that we could safely conduct races.” 
 
The Australian Turf Club also confirmed this. Their website now reads, “Today’s meeting has been postponed due to continued rainfall and there will be no racing today.” 

Didn’t want to waste time 

Railton’s decision to call off the race came much earlier than most horse racing betting fans anticipated on Saturday.  
 
According to the top steward though, calling off the race early was the right call to make. 
 
“It’s obviously disappointing to have to call it off, but it’s the right call,” Railton said. 
 
“We got a lot more rain than what was anticipated and forecast. When we inspected the track, there was surface water where previously it had just been squelch. 
 
“The surface water was everywhere. It was still raining and the forecast was woeful. 
 
“With all that combined, it would have been a waste of everyone’s efforts to come here.” 

No rescheduled races announced 

With news breaking so early there would be some hope that new dates for the Civics Stakes and other races would also be announced soon. Unfortunately that’s not been the case yet,  
 
At time of writing, neither the $200,000 Civics Stakes and other races have been rescheduled. 
 
Racing NSW last rescheduled a race two weeks ago when the Lord Mayor's Cup was raced at Randwick  just seven days after the 11-race card was postponed due to weather.