Beast from the East forces all-weather fixtures to abandon
No horse racing today as Thursday's meeting at Newcastle has now been abandoned following further snow overnight. The track was forced to call off Wednesday's all-weather action due to the current cold snap but had called an 8am inspection in the hope of more favourable conditions on Thursday. However, after an initial check failed to yield a decision, a second inspection at 9am showed parts of the track to be unraceable and the meeting was called off. The track tweeted: "Unfortunately due to overnight snowfall and snow drifting across parts of the track we have had to abandon today's fixture."
The Kempton evening meeting, set to stage the "Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes, also succumbed to the snow. An 11am inspection had been called, but the meeting was cancelled at 9.45am.
Friday's meeting at Chelmsford City has been abandoned due to snow as well. An inspection had been called for 1pm, but the clerk of the course Andy Waitt made an early call with a further check planned for 1pm on Friday ahead of Saturday's meeting.
"The forecast for Saturday is much better, but the issue we have on Friday is getting everybody here," said Waitt. "We don't want to put anyone in a position where they are struggling to get here. We'll inspect at 1pm tomorrow for Saturday."
The snow has also forced officials at Lingfield to call a precautionary inspection for 8am on Friday ahead of the afternoon meeting.
So far things look okay for Southwell and their Jumpers Bumpers meeting that was recently added to the fixture list.