By Alex Teng

PENANG, MALAYSIA - THE Penang Turf Club was forced to cancel its prestigious RM1mil ($418,300) Astro Wah Lai Toi Sprint Trophy race due to a waterlogged track at Batu Gantong for the second year running.

The club had lined up 10 feature races with prize money worth RM1.78mil yesterday but incessant heavy rain, which hit Penang on Saturday, caused the ageing Batu Gantong track to be submerged in water.

On Saturday, the club also had to abandon five of the nine races scheduled when torrential rain battered most parts of Penang.

Some of the roads leading to the club were also flooded, reducing the traffic to a crawl to and from Batu Gantong.

Among the affected major races yesterday included the RM400,000 Malaysian Magic Millions Classic and the RM100,000 Dr Lim Ah Soo Memorial Trophy.

Australian David Chester was clearly disappointed.

'I visit Penang at least three times each year. Every time when it comes to September and during this prestigious Sprint Trophy meeting, heavy rain will usually wreak havoc.

'This is the third time I've come across this cancellation. Maybe, the club should think of changing the race dates after this latest disappointment,' he said.

A first-time visitor to Penang, Thomas Li Chu Kwan from Macau also could not hide his disappointment.

'I was looking forward to watching the Trophy race for the first time but too bad, the track was not in good condition.

'This is the first time I'm in Penang and I really like the place. I'll make an extra effort to be back next time,' he said.

Last year, the club called off its races including the Sprint Trophy race after Penang was lashed by heavy rain in September. The same thing happened in 1999. - The Star