Hundreds gather for the kangaroo races

Today's Hanging Rock Cup raceday has been postponed because of kangaroos on the track.
The traditional Australia Day meeting had attracted thousands of racegoers, but kangaroos invading the track made it impossible for Racing Victoria Limited stewards to let the races go ahead.

The horses were in the barrier for the first event at 12.35pm when jockeys noticed kangaroos close to the track along the back straight.
The horses were released from the barriers and efforts were made to shoo the kangaroos away.

The horses were released from the barriers and efforts were made to shoo the kangaroos away.

Despite the efforts of Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club and RVL staff, the kangaroos returned to the vicinity of the track.

At about 1.45pm chief steward Peter Ryan had no choice but to postpone the meeting because there were no guarantees that the kangaroos wouldn't jump on to the track while a race was being run.

Kyneton and Hanging Rocking Racing Club chief executive Mark Graham said the kangaroos were persistent in wanting to enter the racing club and, despite being shooed from the venue, they continually jumped the five-foot fences.

"We have had about half a dozen kangaroos who were more interested in being inside the venue, than outside the venue," Graham said.

He said they had no alternative but to cancel the meeting because of the danger the kangaroos posed to riders.
"In the end, the risk to rider and horse was too great."

He said race meetings at the picturesque venue had been affected by kangaroos about eight times in the past 10 years.

Gates at the racing club are normally open and kangaroos graze freely at the racecourse.