Warrnambool races scheduled for next Tuesday have been transferred to Terang following insect damage to the track.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Standard understands the damaged area from the 400 to 800 metre mark was caused by cutworm and African black beetles.
Warrnambool Racing Club racecourse manager Daniel Lumsden said the meeting had to be transferred as the club was endeavouring to have the best racing surface for its three-day May Racing Carnival.
“We sprayed the section of the track from the 400 to 800 metre mark before Christmas when we first noticed the problem,” Lumsden said.
“I thought we were on top of the matter but the damage had already been done. We’ll be spraying the entire track on Tuesday afternoon to rectify the problem.
“We have to repair the section of track from the 400 to the 800 metre mark.
“We’ve got to get rid of the dead grass and put new seed in that section of the track and water that area heavily for it to be right.
“The high temperatures have played a part in attracting the bugs.”
Lumsden said he was confident the track will be ready for the club’s next meeting on February 7.
“Everything should be right for our next meeting but we will be monitoring things closely,” he said.
“We can’t take any risks with our May Carnival only a few months away.”
The club has two meetings scheduled for February and another two in March before the running of its May Carnival.