Unsafe track forces Rotorua to abandon meeting

The Rotorua races were abandoned yesterday when the Arawa Park track was deemed unsafe after overnight rain.

It continues a horror run for the club, which hasn't held a meeting on the track since January last year.

The course was levelled and bends recambered, but when trials were held in November last year, two jockeys were injured when their mounts slipped near the winning post.

That resulted in Racing Rotorua transferring its Christmas meeting to another track while further remedial work was done.

It is understood a horse galloped at the track yesterday to test the surface and skidded near the winning post.

The May 2 Rotorua Cup meeting has been transferred to Te Aroha.

Stewards abandoned yesterday's Geelong meeting in Victoria after advice from senior jockeys who considered the track to be unsafe because of stones exposed during drainage work over the past few weeks.

- NZPA / AAP