Racing NSW is monitoring horse welfare through this long dry period at the track and in stable.
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Shane Cullen is the Chief Steward for the Hunter and North West Racing Association.
An inspector with racing NSW, could travel on average 75,000 kilometres a year inspecting race horses. Mr Cullen's inspection of Armidale race track, on Friday September 6, resulted in permission for, Armidale Jockey Club, to race on September 14.
"We are responsible for the drug testing as well. Horses that win, and random samples from horses in competition and outside competition. We take human samples, jockey, track riders, horse handlers and we do that at any track, on any day," Mr Cullen said.
"This is a very important day for local racing and the local community. This is generally a very well attended meeting and it will be dusty but it is safe. Television coverage will include dusty coverage, it is what it is a drought affected track.
"The university is involved and groups jump in and help with sponsorship. It is important for people to attend the races especially when towns are drought affected.
"The track has some cover on it which is suitable for racing. The surface will be a firm 2 surface and that is as good as it can be under these conditions. The track is firm here but next week we race at Barraba.
"Barraba is a designated dirt track and it has been for one hundred years. We race there successful and the track is always firm. There is no grass cover.
"It is important that we also cater for the horse population. Horses have to compete, the industry function, the prize money awarded to the participants and that is what it is about. While that can be done safely then we race.
"We will just continue to monitor where we go through this long dry period.
"We struggle in drought times giving people certainty whilst racing is a recreation, other people, see it as a business. This process is about giving some certainty in this region around racing," Mr Cullen concluded.
The region that Mr Cullen covers includes Cessnock, Mungindi, Glen Innes, Malawore, Moree, and he will visit as many tracks as he can. Mr Cullen can transfer meetings because of the drought, recently a race scheduled for Tamworth ran at Scone. Cessnock has run at Newcastle. The process means that track get time to recover between events.