The forecast for extreme heat has prompted officials to reschedule an upcoming race meeting at Wangaratta, pushing it back by two days.
Wangaratta was due to race on Saturday but Racing Victoria has moved the meeting to Monday after consultation with its veterinary department, the Bureau of Meteorology and the trainers' and jockeys' associations.
The BOM has forecast temperatures will reach a high of 45 degrees in Wangaratta on Saturday while the forecast for Monday is 28 deg.
"We will continue to monitor conditions across the state during this period of extreme weather and work with industry stakeholders to make the best decisions for all participants and our equine athletes," RV's Greg Carpenter said.