Devastated organisers have been forced to confirm that the 2016 Canola Cup won’t go ahead because of sustained wet weather.
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A decision was made on Wednesday to cancel the heats, which were due to take place that night in Bathurst, and the finals meeting at Eugowra on Monday.
The Eugowra Showground was already waterlogged, which forced the postponement of the heats on Sunday, and with weather forecasts predicting even more rain in the coming days the tough decision was made.
Flooding at nearby Forbes was another factor in the cancellation, with some trainers unlikely to be able to make it to the meeting.
Organisers and Harness Racing NSW made the decision to cancel the meeting early to assist participants.
HRNSW Chief Executive John Dumesny acknowledged the amount of work the Eugowra committee had put into the planning for this year’s Canola Cup but confirmed there was no other option.
“The Eugowra meeting has become an important annual event as the first of the TAB.COM.AU Carnival Of Cups meetings for the season,” Mr Dumesny said.
“With the weather pattern creating a once in a century event the rain is causing havoc for plenty of people across the entire state let alone in the Central West.”
Dumesny said the Eugowra Club Committee deserved praise for making the tough decision.
“There is more rain expected this week and the track and surrounds are so wet that they can’t sustain one more drop,” he said.
“I can only compliment for making this difficult decision but it is in the interests of all concerned.”
“The Canola Cup will be back in 2017 as big if not bigger than ever.”
Mr Dumesny confirmed a meeting will now be run at Bathurst on Monday of the long weekend.
With the heats of the Canola Cup hastily moved to Wednesday night [September 28] the meeting was modified to hold heats of a new TAB.COM.AU Championship, with the $12,000 final to be run on Monday.
Mr Dumesny said it was done “to keep faith with the trainers in the Central West that have been able to continue working their horses during this period.”
“HRNSW has a commitment to our wagering partner TAB to conduct a certain number of meetings and with Bathurst in a position to conduct the meeting on the public holiday it makes sense for a race meeting to be conducted.
“Whilst there will be necessary adjustments to the race distances and starting configurations for Bathurst the prize money for the support races will be basically in line with what was to be offered at Eugowra.”
Nominations close on Thursday at 9.30am with HRNSW for the Bathurst Monday Meeting.
