The Beef Week Cup will not be held at Casino this year – for the third year in a row – it has been cancelled or moved to another venue.
Casino Racing Club announced that on instruction from NSW Racing and following a track inspection and track gallops, the Beef Week Cup meeting on Friday, May 24 will not proceed.
Club president John Walker said the track has been subject to renovation over the last year.
“Unfortunately, the surface, whilst fully grassed, has not yet bound with the subsoil, rips apart easily, constantly shifts and is therefore not considered safe for jockeys and horses,” Mr Walker said.
A planned race in March was abandoned because of track condition.
The club has worked with Richmond Valley Council to try and remedy the situation and while significant progress has been made, the wet weather has been hasn’t helped.
“This is a significant disappointment for all who enjoy our race meetings and the Beef Week festivities as well as the owners and trainers who don’t get to race,” Mr Walker said.
“It makes things difficult for the Casino club because Beef Week Cup is the main revenue generator for the Club and not having the race and the costs of fixing the track problems puts significant strain on the clubs’ finances.”
Racing NSW will determine whether the Beef Week race meeting will proceed at a different track or whether it will be abandoned altogether.
