Country Racing Victoria officials will on Tuesday inspect the fire-affected Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club to assess the viability of its cup meeting next month.

The Canni Creek circuit has hosted picnic races for 133 years, but extensive fire damage has put the February 15 Buchan Cup in jeopardy.

The winning post, caller’s tower, running rail and parts of the track surface have been scorched.

But club secretary Ian Dunkley hopes to go ahead with the meeting.

“The community want to race there because they’re all devastated and look at it as a situation where they can all get together and chat over things,” Dunkley said.

“It’d mean a lot (to be able to race). If we can possibly do it, we’d like to have the races there.

“It’s a scene out of a black and white movie; it’s all black and white.”

A giant eucalyptus tree outside the mounting yard split and fell.

The biggest branch landed in “winning stall No. 1 and didn’t touch the sides”.

The club’s 2006 meeting was transferred to Bairnsdale because of bushfire threat and smoke.

Proceeds from Buchan’s annual picnic race meeting help fund the local nursing centre, primary school, church, cemetery and Avenue Of Honour.

“Anything we get, we distribute back to the local community,” Dunkley said.

Racing Victoria cancelled Monday’s Werribee meeting because of the persistent smoke haze. Trials at Pakenham and Tatura went ahead as scheduled.

RV said it would decide on Tuesday morning whether Caulfield’s twilight meeting could proceed. Race one is scheduled for 3.40pm.

Article by Gilbert Gardiner
Article from Herald Sun