Manawatu meeting today abandoned

As Cyclone Gabrielle causes chaos in the North Island, Manawatu's race meeting today has been abandoned.

Such has been the devastation that a national state of emergency was declared this morning.

"That was the final straw really," says Manawatu Harness Racing Club president Dan Lynch, "there is some uncertainty about what the weather will bring and we are erring on the side of caution."

The seven race programme was due to start at 4.05pm.

"With floats coming from Taranaki and from up north and drivers coming in from the South Island we made the decision," says Lynch, "people's lives are more important than a race meeting."

It's hoped the second day of the meeting, on Thursday, will go ahead as planned.