The recent spate of wet weather has resulted in the postponement of this year’s Gunbower Gold Cup meeting.
With heavy rain falling in the district during the past few weeks and the forecast for more precipitation over the coming days, the track was deemed unsafe for racing.
The decision was made on Monday, five days out from what would have been the running of the 2022 Moama Bowling Club Gunbower Cup.
Gunbower Racing Club president Mick Farrant said it was a major blow, with the club expecting one of its biggest ever crowds for what was set to be the first meeting since 2019.
“It’s a bit of a bummer for us because the bookings had been phenomenal, we were expecting a crowd of about 4000,” Mr Farrant said.
"We had a track inspection on September 16, it looked magnificent and we got the thumbs up.
“But as you know, it has been quite wet in the past couple of weeks and because we’ve got a flood-irrigated track, it goes to one point to drain off.
“The rain (on Monday) was the killer and with more coming, it is was pretty clear that the track was not going to be good enough by Saturday.
“It’s not only the track, but also the surrounds are all sodden, which is no good when you need buses to be parked, tractors, horse floats and of course the marquees set up on the lawn.’’
Mr Farrant said the club was working with Country Racing Victoria to see if the meeting could be rescheduled.
“There’s a couple of possibilities,” he said.
“We may get a transferred meeting from Echuca or there is the chance that we might be able to use our old date in January and run the 2022 Moama Bowling Club Gunbower Cup on Saturday, January 7, 2023.”
Mr Farrant said full refunds would be processed for all tickets and packages purchased within three-five business days.
“We’re a volunteer-based club and everyone feels a bit low after this news,” he said.
“I feel for the committee, the volunteers, everyone who booked packages, hotel rooms in Echuca and surrounds.
“We had people coming to celebrate wedding anniversaries, reunions, plenty of footy and netball clubs for their trips away, buck’s parties.
“I’ve been heartened by the fact that 99 per cent of people have been really good about it, and the support of our sponsors who have said they’ll back us if we’re able to run this meeting in January.”
If one club deserves a change of luck it is Gunbower, which has a rich history with horse racing stretching back to 1881.
This postponement follows the cancellation of the meetings in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
“We’ll bounce back,” Mr Farrant said.
“We’ve got a great committee of about 14 people and there’s about 20 people who turn up for the working bees.
“We’ll catch up later this week over a couple of beers and aim to go again.”