Frost Park track rot derails first meet

Racing and Wagering WA have stripped Mt Barker Turf Club of their opening meeting of the season after stewards ruled the track unsafe to race on in 10 days time.

The stewards held a routine track inspection at Frost Park on Sunday and were unhappy with grass coverage on certain sections of the track, resulting in RWWA officially moving the seven-race card meeting to Albany on November 15.

RWWA integrity general manager Denis Borovica, who received a report from deputy chief steward Harold Taylor after his inspection, said the area of concern was in the straight where grass had been cut and left on the track, causing the remaining grass to "rot".

"There was sections of the track in the straight where the grass wasn't in good enough order for racing and requires some remedial work," he said.

"So the club is going to do that, but there was no possibility that was going to come up to racing standard in time for their meeting on the 15th as scheduled."

As a result the club's Pink Ladies Day will be moved to Mt Barker Cup day on Sunday, March 20, with RWWA hopeful the track will be ready in time for the club's second meeting on December 4.

Mr Borovica said more inspections would be done before the club's next scheduled meet.

"We will be back there in good time before the 4th (of December) and having another look and making sure it's on track," he said.

"If there is any doubts, safety is first and foremost, and we will have to move it, but we are all hopeful we won't have to do that."

Turf Club president Mitch Braithwaite said the club was disappointed to lose the meeting, but he was hopeful of the track being "up to scratch" by December 4.

The club has five more scheduled meetings for the season, including the Mungrup Sprint on January 17, the Grapes and Gallops festival, and the Mt Barker Cup on Sunday, March 20.

Local trainer Alan McNamara Jr said it was disappointing that despite the good growing conditions, the track had been badly maintained.

Trainer Justin Parsons also said the situation was disappointing.

"There should have been more maintenance in the off season and an eye kept on it," he said.