Leeton’s feature race was set to be run on Friday night, but with a forecast top of 46 it has been altered.

Using the Harness Racing NSW heat policy, the meeting is one of three shifted for the week.

Leeton president Gary Punch said the move was made in the best interests of horses and participants.

“It is a fickle thing what the weather does but there is nothing much you can do about it,” Punch said.

“We just have to change it for the best of running the meeting as there would be nothing worse than getting to the track and the stewards make a decision that the meeting has been abandoned due to the heat policy and everyone has travelled.

“By making these decisions now we’re hoping everyone can still benefit from the racing.”

Pushing the meeting back was considered but with the forecast still over 40 degrees in the late evening it was deemed there was no choice but to find a new date.

“Normally when we do push race meetings back a race or two we do see a good relief in the weather, but it is not predicted at this stage,” HRNSW chairman of stewards Grant Adams said.

“For most of the night, until about 9 o’clock, it is still going to be in the high 30s and it’s basically just too hot.”

Punch is still hoping to attract a strong crowd on their club’s feature race.

However he expects the date will have an impact with Friday the beginning of the Australia Day long weekend while school resumes on Wednesday.

The first of eight races will now be run at 7.10pm with the two-year-old feature at 9.40pm.

All draws remain the same.

READ MORE