Slowest time recorded, Randwick postponed

Stewards at Randwick wouldn’t have needed too much convincing to postpone the final nine races on Saturday after the opening race set a record for taking so long.

It is understood the 1.19.8 seconds it took True Crime to win the 1200-metre race for two-year-olds was the slowest ever recorded at Randwick such was the waterlogged state of the heavy 10 track.

ATC stewards called off the meeting following the first race, citing visibility and unsure footing as major factors in their decision following a meeting with jockeys who had ridden in the first race.

The penetrometer reading of 6.29 before the opening race was the highest rating ever recorded before a meeting has begun.

To underline just how slow the race was run, over the past 15 years, Randwick has hosted a total of 697 races over 1200 metres with the next slowest being nearly three seconds quicker than True Crime managed to carve out.

That time of 1.16.92s was recorded by American President, who won over the course in April, 2022.

SLOWEST RANDWICK 1200-METRE WINNING TIMES SINCE AUGUST 20071:19.18 – TRUE CRIME (Tommy Berry / Kim Waugh) – 2YO Handicap, July 23 2022, Heavy (10).1:16.92 – AMERICAN PRESIDENT (Tommy Berry / Greg Hickman) – 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap, April 23, 2022, Heavy (10).1:16.56 – EVERY MAN’S DREAM (Corey Brown / Chris Waller) – 2YO Fillies 0MW Handicap, June 30, 2009, Heavy (10).1:15.75 – THRONUM (Tommy Berry / Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) – LR Rosebud Stakes, August 6, 2016, Heavy (10)1:15.64 – TYCOON TARA (Blake Shinn / Peter & Paul Snowden) – G2 Missile Stakes, August 6, 2016, Heavy (10)