Flemington card in jeopardy as bushfires continue to cause havoc to programme

The devastation caused by Australia's continuing bushfire crisis continues to impact racing with three meetings this week already succumbing to the dangerous conditions and Saturday's card at Flemington now under threat.

Racing Victoria on Wednesday abandoned meetings at Caulfield and Yarra Valley as well as Tuesday's Spendthrift Australia Park meeting due to the smoke haze.

A change in weather and predicted rain means Thursday's meetings at Ararat and Pakenham as well as Friday's meetings at Geelong and Cranbourne will go ahead.

However, Racing Victoria's executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said Flemington's meeting could be in jeopardy.

Flemington: Saturday's meeting is under threatCredit: Sportpix

The air quality in Melbourne due to the effects of the bushfires is an ongoing concern. Players at the Australian Open tennis tournament, qualifying for which is currently taking place in the city, have complained about the quality of the air.

"Normally you look at a Saturday and see a forecast for fine weather as a positive," Carpenter said. "With the fine weather and the wind direction, it does mean we will be susceptible or vulnerable for smoke haze coming back.

"The watch at the minute is for Flemington on Saturday. We will keep working with the EPA [Environment Protection Authority Victoria], Bureau of Meteorology, and the different clubs, the Australian Trainers' Association and the VJA and make a decision as we get closer to Saturday."

Transferring the Flemington meeting to Sunday is a possibility if Saturday's conditions cause racing to be cancelled.

Meetings are also scheduled for Camperdown and Woolamai on Saturday and trials were held at Pakenham and Tatura on Tuesday and at Mornington on Wednesday.

Carpenter said Racing Victoria had consulted with stewards at those tracks before deciding to run the trials.

"What we have seen with these air quality issues is that generally the air quality is best in the morning," he said. "That is not why we conducted those trials necessarily at Pakenham and Tatura.

Caulfield: meeting cancelled on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images

"Very early [Tuesday] morning I was speaking to the steward in charge of Werribee, and the stewards in charge of the trials at Pakenham and Tatura. My expectation was that all of those meetings would be called off.

"But to some degree, when you are sitting here in the office in Melbourne and making decisions, you’ve got to rely on people on the ground.

"When the steward in charge of the Pakenham trials got there, they were really pleasantly surprised with the air quality and the conditions. Everyone who was there felt it was okay to continue."

Racing Victoria pledges All-Star donation

Racing fans have an added incentive to vote for a contender in March’s $5 million All-Star Mile with Racing Victoria pledging to donate $1 for every vote polled to the Victorian bushfire appeal.

The All-Star Mile field is voted for by fans, with 93 eligible contenders, including 25 Group 1 winners, eligible for selection. Voting closes in mid-February.

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