WITH water laying on several sections of the track, the Marthaguy Picnic Races that were set for this Saturday 7 May have been cancelled for 2022 with just four days to go.

Chief Stipendary Steward for the Western Racing Association Dean Bucknell inspected the track with Race Club members at 2pm on Monday afternoon 2 May and it soon became clear the track would not dry in time for Saturday’s event.

"In one section water was still flowing onto the track from the saturated long grass in the surrounding paddock so it was pretty clear it wasn't going to dry out in time," said race club Secretary Marg Garnsey.

Around 50 millimetres of rain fell at the Quambone Sportsground & Racecourse on 26 & 27 April, coming on top of other falls in early April and a whopping 77 millimetres on 31 March.

"We went around the track on a quad bikes and on foot, but Dean had driven in to the Sportsground and we had to tow him out." Mrs Garnsey said.

WRA's Chief Stipendiary Steward Dean Bucknell receives a small tow from Marthaguy Picnic Race Club member Larry Garnsey. PHOTO: M Garnsey

Marthaguy Race Club Secretary Marg Garnsey said that they had explored the option of finding other dates at the end of last week when the rain continued to fall.

"Unfortunately no other dates are available from Racing NSW," she said. "But it was fortunate that the cancellation came far enough ahead of the races that catering and other orders had not been picked up."

"We ran successfully in 2021, we missed 2020, and we ran in 2019," Mrs Garnsey said. "It's looking like it's an every second year event. But it's much better to find out now than just a day or two out."

An indication of heavy track conditions at Quambone racecourse on Monday 2 May. PHOTO M Garnsey.