Waterlogged Belmont still likely to go ahead on Saturday

Tom Walter - Thursday August 10

Officials are confident Saturday's feature meeting at Belmont will proceed despite surface water forcing the abandonment of Wednesday's program.

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Perth Racing track manager Chris Nation and chief steward Brad Lewis called off the midweek card for safety reasons after finding two waterlogged sections of the track during an early morning inspection.

"There were trouble spots at the 1600m mark and winning post," Nation told The West Australian.

"New drainage measures are clearing problems at those points.

"We'll also move racing back to the inside pad on Saturday, instead of having our rail positioned 9m out.

"Races have not been run against the inside fence for three weeks and that's now the track's best part. The overall circuit is in fine condition and I'm sure we'll be right to hold Saturday's meeting."

Racing at Belmont on Saturday will see the running of the $100,000 Listed Belmont Newmarket (1200m) – WA's first stakes race of the season.

Meanwhile, auction house Magic Millions has been announced as the new naming rights sponsor of the $1 million Kingston Town Classic (1800m), the third and final Group I races of the TABTouch Masters Ascot carnival later this year.

"The TABtouch Masters was the breakout hit of Australian thoroughbred racing last season and Magic Millions is delighted to be part of its second edition, sponsoring the $1,000,000 Kingston Town Classic, a race which honours the only three-time WS Cox Plate winner," Managing Director of Magic Millions Vin Cox said.

"Magic Millions has a rich history in Western Australia via its annual Perth Yearling Sale conducted each February and strong connections throughout the domestic and international thoroughbred racing industries.

"It's great to have the opportunity to partner with Perth Racing for the $1,000,000 Kingston Town Classic, which like The TABtouch Masters is something of a standard bearer."

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