Stewards give green light for trackwork after repairs
Mt Barker Turf Club’s track was re-opened this week after it was temporarily shut for trackwork because of an irrigation problem that waterlogged a small section of the track.
After holding the opening meeting of the Great Southern racing season on November 5, the MBTC’s Frost Park track was closed by Racing and Wagering WA stewards after the irrigation issue.
A burst sprinkler on the far outside of the track alongside the stalls for horses to return to scale had caused the waterlogging.
Trackwork is done on the outside of Frost Park and once the problem was identified, the sprinkler was dug up and fixed leaving an unsafe section of turf.
However, after an inspection by stewards on Monday morning, the surface was officially reopened for trackwork yesterday.
Stewards are expected to again inspect the track before the MBTC next meeting on Thursday, December 12, but they are confident there will be no more issues with the track and that club can push ahead with the remainder of the calendar.
Meanwhile, stewards had a busy day in Albany on Sunday, concluding an inquiry into local trainer Roy Rogers and trackwork rider Stephen Sheehy.
Sheehy was fined $250 for using spurs while riding trackwork at Mt Barker on October 29 which did not comply with Local Rule 88.
Rogers was also fined $250 for being a party to Sheehy committing a breach of LR.88 that day.
The stewards reported the spurs seized were of a blunt, ball type which had been fully wrapped in tape and were not of a sharp nature. Albany trainer Des Attwell was fined $300 on Sunday after having an unlicensed person assisting with the care of his horses at his registered stables.
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