Horse Racing: Musselburgh cancels race meeting as frost takes its toll on track

Published on 17/01/2013 12:00

Racing scheduled for tomorrow at Musselburgh has been abandoned after the icy weather refused to relax it’s grip on the East Lothian track.

The seaside circuit was still partially frozen when officials checked early this morning 
after overnight temperatures had dropped to -1C following some very hard frosts earlier in the week.

Following consultations with the Met Office, it was decided that racing could not go 
ahead because of the frozen conditions. “The forecast has been very uncertain all week” said Clerk of the Course Harriet Graham. “Things are forecast to get a little better, but only rising to 2C today and then dropping again tonight to -2C.

“That would not be enough to shift the frost which is 
into the ground, especially in those areas where there is not much grass and although 
we had the take-off and 
landing areas covered around the obstacles, it seemed best 
to make an early decision 
and we have abandoned the meeting”.