Extraordinary scenes on the Gold Coast as the Magic Millions race day is POSTPONED after overnight deluge, leaving punters frustrated and furious
- Magic Millions Saturday race day postponed due to downpour on the Gold Coast
- Safety of jockeys on ‘heavy’ track was of paramount importance, stewards said
- Organisers may look to stage racing over the coming days if weather improves
Punters have been left frustrated after continual rain saw the Magic Millions race day officially postponed on the Gold Coast after just two races.
It followed a secret ballot of riders, where it was decided by majority it was unsafe to continue.
The track was deemed too hazardous following at least 22mm of downpour since Friday.
Around 1.40pm local time, stewards formally cancelled Queensland’s richest race day on the calendar.
The heavy downfall was affecting visibility for the jockeys, with eight of the ten scheduled races then sensibly abandoned on the track rated as heavy.
Punters have been left furious after continual rain saw the Magic Millions race day officially called off on the Gold Coast on Saturday
The track was deemed unfit for racing by stewards on the Glitter Strip following downpour since Friday
Before the postponement, a decision was made by competing hoops to continue on a race-by-race basis.
But when star jockey James McDonald reported his mount slipped in the second race on the card when on board Desperately, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission Chief Steward Josh Adams stepped in.
‘We asked the riding group (jockeys) to do a secret ballot to decide if they wanted to continue on with the race meeting,’ he said.
‘It was the decision of the riding group to withdraw their services.
‘The stewards also had a vote and we agreed the track is not (currently) safe to race on.’
The Magic Millions Classic and Magic Millions Guineas are expected to be now staged on either Wednesday or Thursday.
When news filtered through trackside racing was going to be suspended, plenty were unhappy.
Keen punter Chris Ivkovic, who flew from Sydney to watch the Magic Millions in the flesh, was shattered at the outcome.
‘My wife and I were looking forward to a magical day,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Sadly, it turned into a nothing day.’
Fellow racing enthusiast ‘Nailor’ tweeted ‘Absolute joke that a meeting of this stature can be called off after 12mm of rain.. (it is) laughable.’