Feral pigs have forced the cancellation of the Adelaide River Cup on June 4, after damaging the town’s track, with organisers choosing to move the race to Darwin.

The race attracts thousands of people to Adelaide River, but was cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and last year.

“On behalf of Adelaide River Race Committee, we wish to advise that our country race meeting won’t be going ahead on June 4 due to feral pigs destroying the track,” the horse racing committee said in a statement.

“We will be back in action for 2023 and hope to see you all then.”

Steward David Hensler, Chairman of Stewarts at Thoroughbred Racing NT said the damage caused by the pigs was catastrophic.

“Large sections of track were affected, with the turf and roots completely dugout. There was no option other than to abandon the meeting from its traditional home for 2022,” he said.

Mr Hensler said the race meet will move to the Fannie Bay Racecourse in Darwin with the original programme, as a cancellation would prove disadvantageous to the industry.

“The majority of horses that would normally race at Adelaide River are trained in Darwin. So, the retention of the race day, so as not to inconvenience horses and participants preparing for the upcoming Darwin Cup Carnival, is crucial,” he said.

The iconic Adelaide River Races, a traditional country race meeting, is now in its 58th year and is run on the Territory’s only turf track.

Both the Adelaide River Show Society and Thoroughbred Racing NT are working on solutions to ensure racing will be held at Adelaide River next year, the groups said.