Expert says rain caused problem

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Garry Foskett checks out the galloping track at Ascot Park yesterday.

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Track expert Garry Foskett believes rain, two days out from raceday, was a key factor in the Ascot Park galloping track becoming unsafe for the Invercargill Gold Cup meeting.

The Southland Racing Club's flagship meeting last Saturday was called off after race four. Included in the seven races not held were the Invercargill Gold Cup and Southland Guineas.

Some jockeys said the track was shifty and some horses had either slipped or had trouble gaining grip. Flying clods also made riding difficult.

Foskett, of Hastings, has spoken to track staff and believes a combination of factors led to the track becoming shifty on Saturday.

The track needed routine repairs - putting divots back into the ground and holes filled with soil - after an 11-race card was held on February 11. The filled holes were packed down and track rolled.

Irrigation was carried out on the track on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Invercargill had rain last Thursday.

"Rain on top of the irrigating caused the track to become shifty and had loosened the repair work," Foskett said.

He added the newly-filled holes and re-laid divots would have been "fired out" in the early races on Saturday.

In addition to the track being shifty, strong winds compounded matters for some horses and riders on the bend at the 800m.

The first three races were over sprint distances, with the speed on all-the-way.

Foskett said he couldn't find any problems with the bend leading into the back straight (1200m to 1400m). Race four started from the 1600m.

"It could have been shifty, but I can't see any evidence of slipping."

Foskett will inspect the track again today before compiling a report for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

"I'll put a maintenance programme in place before I leave."

He would like soil and turf expert Jim Murphy, of Palmerston North, to inspect the track in the next fortnight.

Yesterday, a ground breaker was used on the track. It slits the track and at the same time, loosens the turf.

jamie.searle@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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