Benalla Sanctioned

Tue 31 Jan

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) has announced it will transfer next week's meeting from Benalla as a sanction for the abandonment of Sunday's race meeting. The meeting scheduled for Monday, 6 February has been moved to Wodonga with Prize money and distances to remain unchanged and nominations close at noon today. Speaking with Shane Anderson on Racing Ahead this morning, RVL's Chief Operating Officer Beranrd Saundry expressed his concern. "The circumstances that led to the abandonment of Sunday's Benalla meeting were unacceptable and the Club has been sanctioned accordingly with their next meeting being transferred to Wodonga,"Saundry said. "There is a significant impact financially on the industry with meetings being called off and it doesn't allow punters to engage in wagering. "Abandoned meetings also impact on our market share and from an RVL standpoint and that's not ideal." Saundry explained that trainers and jockey's would be compensated as a result of Sunday's debacle. "We are currently in the process of organising a compensation package for both trainers and jockeys who were affected with the abandonment of Benalla." Saundry added. However, Saundry was quick to explain that yesterday's meeting at Kilmore, that was also called off after just four races, had nothing to do with the new drainage system that the club had recently installed. "Kilmore received 8-9ml of rain very quickly yesterday between races four and five and as a result of that there was alot of excess surface water lying on the track which the jockeys and stewards deemed unsafe for racing." Saundry said.