Following a track inspection on Tuesday a decision was made to move the remaining eight races of Sunday’s rescheduled Scottsville race meeting to the Greyville Poly on Wednesday.
As a result the Greyville poly meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday 18 April is now postponed to Friday evening, 20 April.
Gold Circle Racing Executive, Raf Sheik, said the Scottsville track had not dried out sufficiently. “The panel decided that rather than doing irreparable damage to the turf on the eve of Champions Season, it was agreed by the majority of the inspection panel that the meeting be moved to the poly track.”
The inspection panel consisted of Raf Sheik, trainers Duncan Howells, Paul Gadsby, Louis Goosen, Tony Rivalland, Jockeys Warren Kennedy, Jarred Samuel, Athandiwe Mgudlwa, Chief Stipendiary Steward, Shaun Parker and Scottsville track manager Michael Ndlovu.
Voluntary scratchings for the Wednesday meeting close at 7:30 am on 18 April.
Full race times are: 2-12:50 3-13:25 4-14:00 5-14:35 6-15:10 7-15:45 8-16:25 9-17:00
The Exotic bets for Wednesday 18 April Greyville poly remain as carded. Bi-pot starts in the first race run on Wednesday, which is Race 2; PA Race 3; Pick 6 Race 4; Jackpot Race 5.
As a result the Greyville poly meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday 18 April is now postponed to Friday evening. The barrier trial is off at 16:40, and Race 1 will be run at 17:15.
Full race times: 1-17:15 2-17:50 3-18:25 4-19:00 5-19:35 6-20:05 7-20:35 8-21:05
Frayed tempers and damning accusations were the order of the day at Scottsville on Sunday after the meeting was abandoned before the running of the second race.
Trainers and jockeys expressed reservations on the state of the going before the meeting started in spite of the official rainfall reading of 9mm in the previous seven days and 3mm overnight.
These readings were in conflict with Summerveld Manager Tony Rivalland’s report of 51mm during the week – a more realistic reading given the week’s downpours!
The penetrometer reading was given at 31 with the going recorded as heavy.
After the barrier trial the jockeys confirmed reservations. “I ran into an arrester bed,” said former Champion Jockey Anton Marcus and trainer Duncan Howells was quick to express his dissatisfaction with the state of the going to the Stipes.
