Meetings To Be Moved Off Kensington Track
- Sunday, 23 November 2014 07:19
Two upcoming meetings will be transferred from Randwick's Kensington track to allow remedial work to begin immediately.
The surface again failed to come up to the desired standard on Saturday with leaders favoured as those behind received kick-back as the track cut up.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said although it was safe for racing, the track was not of a level required for Saturday metropolitan racing.
Murrihy inspected the track on Saturday morning and expressed his doubts about its quality before the meeting.
The Australian Turf Club said the plan was to move Friday's twilight meeting to Canterbury or Warwick Farm while the December 6 meeting could be held on the course proper.
The course proper could not be used on Saturday because the grass had been cut back in preparation for the Villiers meeting on December 13.
"It is disappointing but not unexpected," Murrihy said.
"It is not of a standard required for Saturday racing. There is kickback and the horses don't like that.
"The horses put their feet in and it comes apart.
"The grass is not holding together. The horses are just punching through it."
Australian Turf Club chief executive Darren Pearce said the club would act to remedy the situation.
"The track was not up to acceptable standards ... and we have a duty to the industry and punters to bring forward the renovation on the Kensington track and look for more reliable racing surfaces for the upcoming two meetings," he said.
"I don't think there is any doubt that transferring the next two meetings and immediately commencing the renovation on the Kensington track is the best outcome for everyone."
The ATC's track manager Lindsay Murphy said the track needed a complete "de-thatching" which would begin as soon as possible.
