RWWA Stewards and racing development staff yesterday conducted an inspection of the Northam race track surface.
The inspection confirmed concerns previously raised by both the Northam Race Club and Stewards, that areas of the track surface are not in good condition following severe frosts and previous insecticide treatments for bill bugs.
Stewards are satisfied that the racing pad being prepared for the upcoming meeting on Thursday 17 July 2008 will provide an adequate surface and that meeting will go ahead as scheduled.
To provide sufficient time for the track surface to recover to a standard suitable for racing, meetings scheduled for Northam on 24 July, 31 July and 7 August 2008 have been cancelled. This will provide the track a four week recess from racing.
RWWA Executive General Manager Racing Ken Norquay said: "the track is overall in a fragile state being completely yellow from frosts, leaving the turf leaf weak and prone to further damage from racing".
RWWA has made arrangements for a qualified agronomist to visit the Northam track this week and provide a detailed report.
"Other than the appearance and general weakness, the condition of the track surface, particularly in the approach to the home turn between the 450m and 550m, is a concern. This section of the track is visibly cut up and quite bare in patches", Mr Norquay said.
To minimise disruption to stakeholders race programme amendments have been made at Belmont Park meetings over the next three weeks.
Mr Norquay said: "RWWA and Perth Racing have worked together to quickly implement changes to race programmes in the coming weeks to cater for the provincial class of horse that normally race at Northam".
On Wednesday 23 July, 30 July and 6 August 2008 Perth Racing will conduct ten-race cards with a mixed metropolitan midweek and provincial race programme. Additional races have also been added to some Saturday meetings.
"RWWA and Northam Race Club acknowledge that there will of course be some inconvenience to stakeholders from the loss of these meetings. However, it has been an acutely severe frost season in Northam and it is imperative the track is provided with ample time to recover and ensure the track is able to host the remaining 13 meetings of the season", said Mr Norquay.
The track surface at Northam will be closely monitored over the next four weeks and any opportunity to resume racing at an earlier date will be considered.
Due to the late changes to the race programme for Wednesday 23 July, entries for all races on Saturday 19 July 2008 are extended until 9.30am on Wednesday 16 July 2008.
Revised Belmont Park Race Programmes (PDF 69KB)
