Racing WA bombshell after officials reveal Lark Hill races run over wrong distances

WA racing has been rocked by revelations two events were run over wrong distances at Lark Hill’s opening race meeting which attracted substantial TAB betting by Australian and international punters last month. Social media and thoroughbred industry circles have been abuzz with rumours on incorrect race lengths when Perth Racing ran the first official meeting held at Lark Hill training centre in Port Kennedy, on April 26. Racing and Wagering WA on Thursday confirmed the Lark Hill Cup and a handicap were run over 1680m instead of the advertised 1600m, on which punters based race form calculations. The Lark Hill meeting was labelled as a Rockingham fixture by Racing WA officials. Punters will not have an opportunity for refunds on losing bets because race results stand when correct weight is declared by stewards, within seconds of jockeys weighing-in. Officials did not did not detect race distance errors on the race day and correct weights were recorded without queries. “Racing WA can confirm that race distances for the Rockingham meeting were based on existing survey conditions,” a Racing WA spokesman said in a statement on Thursday. “A subsequent survey post the 26 April 2026 race meeting has identified an amendment to the 1600m starting position, which has been updated.” The admission is a serious blow to WA racing’s professionalism and credibility. Wayne The Pain, ridden by Ava Catarino, won the cup by a neck from Beats Of War and Cassey Martinan’s mount Startling Star scored a head victory over Space Academy in the handicap. Other events on the six-race card were run over varying distances. Racing social media forums lit up this week when thoroughbred industry figures pointed to race times for the two 1600m races, which were run on firm track conditions, conducive to fast gallops. The $20,000 Lark Hill Cup was run in 1min.43.74ec and handicap winner clocked 1:43.99. Marwong holds the WA 1600m record after being timed at 1:33.73 when he won Ascot’s Railway Stakes. The 1600m records for other principal WA tracks are 1:34.91 (Belmont Park), 1:34.30 (Pinjarra) and 1:34.92 (Bunbury). A social media forum correspondent, explaining a viewing of the Lark Hill Cup video, wrote: The cup field were running before they reached the 1600m post. So the race might have been closer to 1700m, which clearly helped Wayne The Pain at the expense of Beats Of War.” WA Shadow Racing and Gaming Minister Lachlan Hunter MP has described the Lark Hill race distances error as “an absolute shambles”. He called on Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia to address “serious concerns” over the mistakes. “The revelations are deeply embarrassing for the WA racing industry,” Hunter said. “This reflects poorly on ministerial oversight of Racing WA and the TAB. It is an absolute shambles. “Punters were betting on advertised race distances that were simply wrong. That strikes at the integrity and credibility of racing and wagering in WA.”