Singapore cancels races due to rain

SINGAPORE,  12 January 2006

The Singapore Turf Club (SNTC) has cancelled tomorrow night's race meeting. This cancelled race meeting will be replaced by a race meeting to be held on Tuesday, Jan 31, a public holiday and the third day of the Lunar New Year.

SNTC took the following factors into consideration in its decision to cancel the race meeting:

1. The safety of jockeys and horses is of paramount concern.

2. The incessant rain over the last 11 days and today. Between Monday, Jan 2 to Sunday, Jan 8, 306mm of rain was recorded at the Singapore Racecourse and another 150mm was recorded in the last four days. The rain has continued today.

3. The weather forecast by the National Environment Agency is for more rain and thunder storms over the next three days (Friday to Sunday) .

4. Even if there is no rain or only light rain tomorrow evening, racing on the turf track that has been soaked by so much water will cause significant damage to it.

The decision was made after consultation with The Association of Racehorse Trainers of Singapore and jockeys and they support the Club’s decision, SNTC said in a statement late today.