Written by Paul Vettise
Torrential rain continues to bombard the New South Wales Mid North Coast with widespread flooding forcing the evacuation of thousands of people and wreaking havoc with the breeding and racing industries.
Following the postponement of the G1 Golden Slipper raceday at Rosehill, further meetings have already been washed out this week at Port Macquarie, Muswellbrook, Hawkesbury and Tuesday's Gosford meeting.
The Coffs Harbour fixture scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed to Wednesday and will be held at Grafton while the Warwick Farm meeting has been delayed until Thursday and will be run on the Kensington track.
Hawkesbury’s meeting on Thursday has already fallen victim to the rain with severe flooding at the complex.
Leading local trainer Brad Widdup was left wondering what he had done to deserve the turmoil and challenges he had faced since he moved to a training operation at Clarendon, adjacent to the track.
“Since I’ve been training here there’s been a pandemic, drought, fire and two floods in the area. I’ve copped in all in four years,” he said. “We’re battling away, but I think we’re through the worst of it.”
“Since I’ve been training here (Clarendon) there’s been a pandemic, drought, fire and two floods in the area (Hawkesbury). I’ve copped in all in four years.” – Brad Widdup
Despite the deluge, Widdup had been able to run his stable with a degree of normality.
“I’ve been able to work my horses every day on the polytrack here and it’s been brilliant. It’s had 300mms of rain on it and you wouldn’t know it,” he said.
Brad Widdup
Hawkesbury Racecourse Manager, Rick Johnston, said he hadn’t experienced the volume of rain in recent days in the 15 years he had been with the Club and fortunately, when TDN AusNZ spoke to him on Tuesday afternoon, the outlook was a lot more encouraging.
“It’s calmed down a bit now and we all hope it’s over. It’s stopped raining and it’s supposed to clear up overnight and be a sunny day on Wednesday, that will be a welcome sight,” he said.
“We had to move a few horses from the stables down the bottom that were closer to Rickaby Creek that got into a bit of strife, but we got them all out and that was the main thing.
“Down where all the horses are tied up on racedays and for trackwork is all completely under water. The flooding would have been two to two and a-half metres high, taller than me.
“Down where all the horses are tied up on racedays and for trackwork is all completely under water. The flooding would have been two to two and a-half metres high, taller than me.” – Rick Johnston
“I’ve seen Rickaby Creek flood, but it’s never come into the racecourse like this time. Now we’ve got to get rid of all the debris, rubbish and silt, it will be a big job but we’ll get it done.”
Thoroughbreds throughout flood-stricken areas have been on the move to safer ground, including a number from an underwater Ascot Farm to Yarraman Park Stud.
Boutique thoroughbred farm Edinburgh Park on the flats of the Manning River felt the full force at the weekend of the massive flood in the Wingham area, but thankfully owner Ian Smith told TDN AusNZ all human and equine residents were safe.
“This is the biggest flood we’ve ever seen and will rival the biggest-ever flood in the area, which was back in 1866,” he said.
“We knew there was significant rain coming so we had our horses up high. No-one was anticipating this and there was warning of moderate to lower risk flooding and this has gone past major.”
Meanwhile, an evacuation order was issued on Tuesday for more residents in the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment as the flood emergency continues. There have been over 850 rescues, 9500 requests for help and over 18,000 people evacuated by the floods.
The next 24 hours will be critical for the state as two weather systems combine to deliver more rain to already peaking rivers.
