Saturday’s Ascot race meeting shifted to Bunbury Turf Club due to extreme heat forecast

Bunbury Turf Club is set to host a last-minute meeting on Saturday, which has been shifted from Ascot due to extreme heat. Temperatures in Perth are expected to reach a maximum of 41C, which has triggered Racing WA’s hot weather policy, allowing the meet to be shifted to a track with cooler conditions. The forecast maximum in Bunbury is currently 37C, with officials having scope to shift the meeting’s start time to later in the day if the heat exceeds 38C. If the start time is changed, stewards must consult with veterinarians to confirm the peak temperatures have eased before racing is allowed to begin. Racing WA chief racing officer David Hunter said the policy ensured animal and participant welfare was prioritised. “The aim is to alleviate the hot weather risk but we won’t hesitate to abandon a race meeting if it’s not safe to go ahead,” he said. “It’s normal for some summer race meetings to be cancelled each year due to hot weather.” Nine races including the 1200m Cyril Flower Stakes are slated to be run on the day, with the first race scheduled to start at 12.29pm and the last planned to get under way at 5.30pm. As part of the reshuffle, the meeting in Bunbury scheduled for next Wednesday has been shifted to Belmont Park.