The club is under significant financial pressure to stage the meeting because it is locked into a three-year tax guarantee with the government. Last night's share of the HK$8 billion annual guarantee was about HK$113 million, payable whether or not the income was earned.

Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges sought formal approval yesterday for the replacement meeting, which will also be staged at Happy Valley.

"They have said they will try their best to facilitate us holding a meeting on that day, so we are optimistic," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

Because the Sha Tin meeting next Tuesday was supposed to be the final fixture of the season, there are logistical difficulties as far as the additional race date is concerned.

Many trainers and jockeys are booked, paid and ticketed to leave the city as early as Tuesday night for their summer holidays. The Jockey Club last night asked them to be "good citizens" and stay on for the extra meeting.

"I understand that certain jockeys have holidays booked, but we will be asking them to change those arrangements and stay for the July 3 race meeting, assuming it is approved," Engelbrecht-Bresges said. "The club is prepared to compensate for any losses or charges incurred because of the change of bookings."

The Jockey Club will also have to amend a huge number of staff leave approvals to ensure the required personnel are available for the meeting.

"We have over 6,000 of our staff scheduled to work at the Olympics," Engelbrecht-Bresges said, "and many of them were scheduled to have holidays immediately after the end of the season so they can be back on duty in time for the equestrian events.

"We are asking everyone involved in the industry to pull together, to do what needs to be done to stage this meeting. We need to be able to show some flexibility and willingness to help - if we are going to go to the government and ask for assistance, it's important for us to be able to demonstrate to them that we, as an industry, are united and prepared to do what is needed, when it is required."

Last night's meeting became a victim of Severe Tropical Storm Fengshen shortly after 10am, with the Jockey Club deciding to abandon the eight-race fixture after a second track inspection and considering a dark weather forecast.

The track had been soaked overnight and at the times of both track inspections - the first one was at 8am - there was significant surface water on the course.

"The track was in significantly worse condition than it had been for our meeting the previous Wednesday, when some jockeys expressed their concern about the track and their safety," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

"We were also advised by the Bureau of Meteorology to expect more rain, heavy at times. We did not think the track, in its condition, could cope with that and remain safe. It was already saturated."

The Jockey Club has told the Home Affairs Bureau it requires an approval by tomorrow if the meeting next Thursday is to go ahead.

The club will call for fresh entries but horses down to race last night will have priority in case of a ballot.

• Gerald Mosse yesterday gave notice of his intention to appeal against his nine-meeting suspension on a merits charge, resulting from his ride on the John Moore-trained Willing Storm at Sha Tin last Sunday.

  Although Mosse pleaded not guilty and defended himself against the charge of having failed to give Willing Storm every opportunity to win or gain the best possible placing, the Frenchman has not appealed against the conviction itself. His appeal is based on the severity of the penalty.

  Stewards ruled the nine meetings should be served from the start of the new season, on September 15.