Racing: Wintry blast postpones tonight's Forbury Park meeting

Saturday's meeting will now start at 11.45am. Photo / 123RF

The winter blast hitting the South Island has forced the Forbury Park Trotting Club to postpone tonight's meeting until Saturday.

The decision to defer the Thursday night trots was made by the club's management in consultation with Harness Racing New Zealand and the New Zealand Racing Board, Forbury Park general manager Rodney Moore said.

"Given the unique weather situation, the club has put the safety of all horsemen and the horses and their connections first."

The decision to postpone the meeting was made early yesterday afternoon to give everyone enough time to change their travelling arrangements, Moore said.

That included rearranging flights for junior drivers competing in the heats of the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship.

Fields for Saturday's meeting remain the same, with only race start times having to be adjusted.

Saturday's meeting will now start at 11.45am.

Roxburgh trainer Geoff Knight, who is also the vice president of the Forbury Park Club, has two horses racing at the meeting and he supported the club's decision to transfer the meeting to Saturday.

"It was a decision I supported because people and horse safety come first.

"There would be nothing worse than if a horse truck or a car slid off the road, it is not worth risking.

"If we hold it on Saturday there is not nearly as much risk," Knight said.

Holding the eight-race card in the prime-time Saturday afternoon racing slot on Trackside TV with the possibility of improved weather conditions could mean a windfall for the Forbury club.

"Hopefully racing on Saturday may even be a financial advantage for the club," Knight said.