QUIRINDI Jockey Club officials are hopeful clearing weather will leave their track and course in good condition for today’s Akubra Quirindi Cup meeting.
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Last year’s Quirindi Cup meeting was also affected by rain or, more exactly, the threat of it.
Yesterday club secretary Ted Wilkinson said this week’s rain had left the track at a Dead 5.
“We had 43mm of rain this week, in three different lots,” Wilkinson said.
“I rated the track this morning as a Dead 5.
“There’s a little bit of give in it but there’s no problems getting a tractor around on it.
“I’m hoping it will be a Dead 4 or maybe even a 3 by the time we race if we don’t get any rain.
“And the forecast is for clearing conditions.”
While the club might miss the welcome drought-breaking rain, it hasn’t received any great help from racing administrators.
Last year the club’s annual cup meeting was treated poorly by the racing hierarchy.
Despite having bigger fields, more prizemoney and two feature races, it was ranked below the corresponding Goulburn meeting and a Victorian country meeting and given a Tasmanian coding on the TAB.
AAP also compiled form guides on the Goulburn meeting but nothing on the Quirindi meeting.
Nothing much has changed.
Today’s Quirindi meeting has been ranked behind the Goulburn meeting again as well as a Donald meeting in country Victoria.
That was despite having bigger fields, more prizemoney and two excellent feature races, one worth $35,000 and the other $25,000.
“Everything is looking good,” said Wilkinson without any reference to the snubs.
“We’re really happy with the fields, particularly the Cup and Lightning”
The Cup field is headed by Mudgee-trained Lancelot.
The Max Crockett-trained gelding has won his past two starts, including a Gilgandra Cup, and jumps from barrier 1.
