Auckland Alexandra Park Cancelled Friday Night Horse Racing Due to Flooding

Due to heavy rain, Auckland's Alexandra Park has canceled its planned horse racing event for this Friday night. The originally scheduled series of races will now be postponed as the track surfaces have become too slippery and submerged due to rising water levels from drainage systems.

The racecourse has suffered severe flooding with parts of the track completely underwater and sections eroding due to the park's natural camber (a difference in elevation between inner and outer edges). This has made visibility for racegoers extremely difficult, particularly during the first portion of the race where all participants are required to wear reflective gear.

Impact on Upcoming Events

In the first event tonight (Friday), the popular horse 'Mean to Be' won by a wide margin with an 8-1 score, but this victory was entirely expected given the challenging conditions. However, due to the ongoing flooding and track issues, all other races scheduled for this evening have been pushed back indefinitely.

Updates from Authorities

All bets placed on the canceled race events have already been refunded by organizers as they work frantically to reschedule Friday night's event. Saturday night's race will now take place with all original race times maintained, provided weather conditions improve and additional recovery measures are implemented.

According to Horse Racing New Zealand's Matt Peden, the extent of the damage is unprecedented in recent memory due to the severe flooding. However, he has stated that if the weather cooperates and additional remedial work can be carried out, Saturday night's event should proceed as planned.

Additional Events

Auckland's Alexandra Park will host its second round of horse racing (scheduled for every Friday night) after three delays. This upcoming race will be particularly special as it marks the return of Harness racing to the park, with the popular horse 'Mean to Be' set to compete in a Group 1 Macarthur Mile.

Meanwhile, Horse of the Week from Sydney's Menangle stables, 'Keayang Zahara,' will make his highly anticipated debut in the Group 1 Macarthur Mile at the nearby venue.

About the Author

Michael Guerin is a senior racing journalist for The NZ Herald. He began his career in journalism while studying to become a teacher, developing an early interest in both horse racing and gambling. In 1990, he joined The NZ Herald as a race reporter, focusing on reporting the world's biggest horse races.