Locust plague cancels race meet
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Locust plague cancels race meet*
December 12, 2006 05:14pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - A SWARM of locusts has forced the cancellation of race day
at a country town in Western Australia with "millions" of the insects
invading the track.
The locust plague eating its way through south-western WA reached the
wine growing town of Mount Barker two days ago.
Mount Barker Turf Club secretary Bob Mason said seven horse races were
due be held today but there were so many locusts on the track the
meeting was cancelled.
"It would have been a hazard to both horse and rider,'' Mr Mason said.
"Too many locusts in the air, millions of them, the horses would by
shying, you wouldn't be able to breathe properly in the midst of them,
terrible.''
Mr Mason said the priority now was to protect the track.
"Obviously, it's disappointing from our perspective, but our focus now
is on maintaining the integrity of the track because we obviously don't
want that eaten out because our next race meeting is on New Year's Eve.
The locust plague has been moving steadily south with race day at
Narrogin, north of Mount Barker, cancelled last week.
To make up for the two cancellations, Racing and Wagering WA has
scheduled an extra race in Albany, farther south from Mount Barker, on
Sunday.
"They're moving south, so hopefully Albany will get a race meeting in on
Sunday before the locusts arrive,'' Mr Mason said.