Mansfield picnic race meeting abandoned

Racing Victoria and the Mansfield District Racing Club have cancelled Saturday’s picnic race meeting at Mansfield, citing extreme bushfire conditions in the region.

The decision follows an extreme fire danger rating for Mansfield and a “Watch and Act – Leave Now” advisory issued on the VIC Emergency website, due to the nearby Longwood fire.

Although the township itself remains unaffected, several major roads, including the Maroondah Highway between Merton and Maindample, have been closed, making travel increasingly difficult.

With volunteers and staff unable to assist and safety concerns mounting, RV confirmed the abandonment.

“While Mansfield has not been directly impacted, the conditions and road closures present significant risks,” RV said in a statement. “The decision was made in the best interests of all involved.”

Picnic racetracks at Alexandra, Yea and Merton are also in the bushfire zone. RV has said it will review the implications for the broader picnic racing program in due course.

Racing NSW has confirmed the Kembla Grange race meeting scheduled for Saturday will be proceeding with a 12:55pm start time and 4:40pm finish.