Melbourne Racing Club is still awaiting confirmation whether its autumn features will be able to be staged at Caulfield after two upcoming meetings were moved.
Last week’s fire in the Norman Robinson Stand has caused ongoing safety issues with the club yet to get the all-clear to resume racing
"The club is working closely with the local council to meet all necessary requirements to ensure a safe and prompt resumption of racing at Caulfield,” an MRC statement said,
"After careful consultation with Racing Victoria, and with the best interests of our members, industry participants, and racegoers in mind, the club has made the following adjustments to upcoming race meetings.”
“The Caulfield Heath twilight race meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 22 January, will now take place at Mornington Racecourse. The Tile Importer Caulfield Australia Day meeting on Saturday, January 25, will be held at Sportsbet Sandown.”
The Sandown meeting on the Saturday will be the first back on the course which has undergone a renovation. That meeting will host both of the Blue Diamond Previews to be run out of the chute on the Lakeside track over the 1000 metres.
The Group 3 Manfred Stakes and Listed John Dillon and WJ Adams Stakes will also be held that day.
There are two distance changes required for the BM70 1700m which will now be run over 1600m and the BM78 2000m which will now be run over 2100m.
Sandown will still run its scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 29 which was the original return to racing date for that track following its extended break.
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Caulfield has a meeting scheduled for February 1 before it hosts the G1 CF Orr Stakes on February 8. On February 22, it is also scheduled to host the Blue Diamond Stakes meeting.
The MRC will confirm the details of those meetings at later date as it works to get the all-clear for the public to return to the site.
“The club is committed to keeping everyone updated on our progress as we work tirelessly to complete the necessary repairs and ensure Caulfield Racecourse is safe and operational,” the MRC said.
Fire crews arrived at the scene of the Norman Robinson Stand blaze at 6.20am on January 7 after reports of a fire at the southeastern suburban racecourse and by 7.09am had the blaze under control.
Victoria Police confirmed no one was injured and the area was evacuated safely, but declared the blaze suspicious. A 51-year-old man was arrested that evening.
The Norman Robinson Stand, next door to the main Rupert Clarke grandstand, was significantly damaged by fire, smoke and water.
Bren O’Brien
