The hot weather forecast for the days ahead has triggered changes to race meeting schedules to ensure the safety and welfare of racing animals and participants.
Racing WA Chief Racing Officer David Hunter said officials were in direct contact with the Bureau of Meteorology and closely monitoring weather conditions to guide their decisions.
“Our hot weather policies are based on the principle that animal and participant welfare always comes first,” David said.
“When the forecast is 38°C or higher, officials consider racing earlier or later to avoid the hottest time of day, re-locating to a racecourse where the weather is cooler and rescheduling races to other days, times or venues.
“The aim is to alleviate the hot weather risk but we won’t hesitate to abandon a race meeting if it’s not safe to go ahead.
“It’s normal for some summer race meetings to be cancelled each year due to hot weather.”
The policies for both horse and greyhound race meetings require stewards, in consultation with veterinarians, to be satisfied that conditions have suitably eased from peak temperatures before racing goes ahead.
The following race meetings have been altered to manage hot weather conditions and ensure the welfare of all participants.
- Ascot Racecourse, Saturday, 21 December:Race meeting will commence at 9:04am and finish at 13:44 to avoid the higher temperatures forecast later in the afternoon.
- Pinjarra (thoroughbreds), Sunday, 22 DecemberRelocated to Bunbury Racecourse, where cooler temperatures are expected.
- Pinjarra (harness), Monday, 23 December
Rescheduled to Tuesday, 24 December.