By Bridie Byrne
The Werribee Racing Club had flagged the idea earlier this year to attract thousands more to its main event.
But WRC chairman Patrick Wheelahan said due to the tender process being delayed it would be unlikely the track would be ready.
“The tender has not gone out as quickly as I had hoped … it doesn’t look like we will have that date in 2010 but I still hope that the track will be prepared early enough so we can have our one-off meeting to call the Werribee Cup,” he said.
“The cup will be in that March time slot every other year.
“It will all happen … but with all the bureaucracy it takes a bit longer.”
Mr Wheelahan said the cup would either be run in August or December next year.
Under the racing fixture, Werribee is set to have one race meeting in the 2009/10 season and eight a year from 2010/11.
Racing Victoria announced in May that the landmark would become an international horse centre and receive a major track upgrade to bring a return to racing.
But the catch was the centre had to be completed in time for the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival.
Werribee will take over the reins from Sandown to accommodate the overseas raiders who arrive in late September to spend time undergoing quarantine procedures and adjusting to local conditions.
A $4 million track upgrade was required before racing could resume.
Racing Victoria would cover the cost in return for Werribee undertaking the high profile quarantine role.
The tender will close on 16 August with the major overhaul of the racetrack to take about four months to complete.
