Racing: Avondale races abandoned

The Avondale races yesterday were cancelled after 71 horses were scratched.

Seven of the races had fewer than seven horses and the scratchings left just 68 horses in an 11-race programme.

Avondale Jockey Club president Graham Reddaway said the meeting could have cost the club more than $30,000.

"The track would have stood up," Reddaway said, "although with the amount of rain that has fallen in Auckland over the last 24 hours we would have had to bring the 1600m start forward to 1400m for safety reasons."

Wet weather has also led to the cancellation of the Otago Racing Club's season opener at Wingatui on Sunday.

The club decided to cancel the meeting yesterday after unfavourable weather forecasts.