Sydney racing threw its biggest party of the year on Saturday, but the only thing that showed up was the rain. Lots of rain.
Celebrities such as Jennifer Hawkins, Kris Smith and newly engaged glamour couple Daniel MacPherson and Zoe Ventoura were supposed to be among the 25,000 people flocking to Randwick racecourse for day one of The Championships, Sydney racing’s richest carnival.
But continuous downpours rained on what was to have been a glittering parade, and The Championships were postponed until Monday because of safety and visibility concerns in the appalling weather.
“With the significant amount of rain that has fallen since 6am, we couldn’t be confident due to the visibility for jockeys in the rain, and the effect the rain would have had on the track,” chief steward Ray Murrihy said.
The cancellation was announced just after 9.30am, which was early enough to keep most punters away from the track.
But a few early birds found themselves on a deserted Randwick concourse that should have been thronging with people dressed in their finest.
Helen Quarrell had travelled from Bowral, 90 minutes outside Sydney, to meet friends Susie Pleasance and John Halliday.
The trio sought refuge in the Owners and Trainers Bar – one of the few places where a warming coffee could be obtained.
“They said, ‘You can’t come in’, and I said, ‘Just watch me’,” Ms Pleasance said.