By Michael Guerin
For the second time in just three weeks Alexandra Park has had a meeting postponed because of wet weather.
Only one race was run tonight before the remainder of the meeting was postponed because of track conditions caused by the very heavy rain in Auckland.
A large pool of water had developed on the inside on the track and crept into the passing lane while rutting was starting to develop on the home bend from water flowing down the track because of the steep camber.
The rain also made visibility difficult in the first race that was taken out in all the way fashion by Words.
The rest of the meeting was postponed and will resume as a new meeting starting at 6.19pm on Saturday night, with all final field and tote bets quickly refunded.
Horses who were scratched from the Friday night meeting have the option to be re-enter Saturday’s fields for what will be an eight-race card.
“There wasn’t a lot we could do because the rain was so heavy,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager Matthew Peden, who was at Alexandra Park.
“But speaking to John Denton [track expert] he is confident if the weather plays its part with a bit of work we will be good to go for tomorrow night.”
The second Friday to Saturday shift at Alexandra Park in three weeks will make for a big Saturday night for harness racing fans as the Group 1 meeting will race alongside a huge card at Menangle, outside Sydney, which will see trotting heroine Keayang Zahara the star of the show as she contests the $100,000 Macarthur Mile.
To see Saturday’s fields click here