Crowd keeps spirits high as stewards cancel Louth Races

Louth ladies looking lovely! Liz Kerr (Best dressed local), Jess Skinner (Best dressed lady second runner up), Sally Martin (Best dressed lady runner up) and Michelle Green (Best dressed lady) had a great day out at the Louth Races. Photo Louth Turf Club

Henry Lawson said Louth was a place that “loves a drink, a punt and a party,” and he wasn’t wrong as crowds flocked to the Louth Races last Saturday, despite the fact there were no horses taking to the track.

The decision by stewards to call off the Louth Races left organisers and the local community deeply frustrated. After inspecting the track at 6am after two millimetres of rain the previous day, combined with heavy dew overnight, NSW Racing stewards deemed it unsafe.

Louth Turf Club Committee President Jim Strachan said the decision was unnecessary.

“We could have raced,” he said. “The curator, who’s been doing it forever, said exactly the same as me. I wanted another track review at midday, but the stewards wouldn’t move on it.

“They just finished the 6am track inspection, argued about it, and by quarter past seven they’d driven off back to Dubbo with no accountability for their decision.”

Local racing identity Tim Moses also felt for the organisers.

“You’ve got to really feel for the club,” he said. “They had the biggest ever Calcutta on Friday night and probably would have had the biggest crowd they’ve ever had there at Louth. They’ve spent a lot of money on food and grog and spent a lot of time getting things right.”

On top of the track ruling, road conditions presented further challenges. […]

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