Not a Single Thoroughbred Race in Australia

Even if it’s just an urban myth, the notion that the racetrack was on a par with pubs and churches as the first places built during Australia’s creation of new towns underlines just how interwoven it is into the fabric of society. With Christmas now Xmas, and observation of religious days all but narrowed down to 25 December, there’s almost nary a day goes by where there’s not at least one or two tracks racing around the continent. That puts the impact of the current once-in-a-hundred-year floods that have battered Australia’s east coast into perspective. On Tuesday, bookmakers received an early mark with not one race meeting anywhere in Australia. That followed the plug being pulled on race meetings at Benalla (Victoria), Gosford and Coffs Harbour (NSW) and Beaudesert (Queensland). With no racing in New Zealand on Tuesday either, thoroughbred fans have needed to wait until today when racing makes a welcome return to Sandown, Ascot, Strathalbyn, Launceston and Pukekohe.

Launceston's Mowbray night racing returns this evening (pic: tasmanianturfclub.com)