Heavy rain forces another Ballarat switch

The Ballarat Turf Club has been forced to transfer another meeting from the turf track because of heavy rain.

After 30mm of rain fell on the track on Wednesday, taking the total over the past month to more than 160mm, Sunday’s meeting has been transferred to Echuca.

Racing Victoria stewards and staff of the BTC inspected the track on Wednesday and again on Thursday morning and determined the surface unsuitable for racing.

Parts of the Ballarat turf track underwent renovation during the construction of the synthetic track earlier this season and as a result sections shortly after the winning post and at the 1700m mark are wetter than other areas of the course.

Having reviewed the current racing program and the weather across the state, Echuca was chosen as the most suitable turf venue.

The track at Echuca was heavy on Thursday.

Three jumps races scheduled for Ballarat on June 18 have been transferred to Warrnambool on June 20 while a Ballarat meeting on June 2, scheduled for the turf, was transferred to the synthetic track.

Another Ballarat turf meeting on May 12 was also transferred to the synthetic track.