Harness racing on the West Coast of the South Island is always at the mercy of the weather to a certain degree.

While Canterbury is in the grip of a drought, on the other side of the Southern Alps there is never a shortage of a drop or two of rain

That fact was rammed home today when heavy overnight rain forced the abandonment of todays Westport Trotting Clubs meeting at Patterson Park.

Most of the horses entered for today's meeting are trained in Canterbury and were already in Westport last night before the rain started.

No replacement date has been sought by the club at this time.

The cost to owners and trainers will be significant and the best that they can hope for now is that the second day of the coast circuit at Reefton on Sunday goes ahead. 

However heavy rain warnings were issued by the Met Service this morning for the whole of the West Coast so if Sundays meeting does go ahead, the track conditions will certainly be on the heavy side.

Harnesslink Media