Horse Racing: Extra races in place to help battered sport

There will be no National Hunt racing in Britain until Tuesday at the earliest with a combination of snow and frost leading to countless abandonments, so BHA officials have added fixtures at Kempton, Lingfield and Southwell.

Kempton's Monday card will be made up of six races.

Additional meetings will also be staged at Lingfield on Tuesday and Southwell on Wednesday, although the details of those cards have yet to be confirmed.

While further all-weather fixtures have been organised, the abandonment of yesterday's meetings at Lingfield and Kempton are proof that not even they are guaranteed to go ahead.

Although the surface at both venues was raceable, the meetings had to be called off due to a shortage of ambulances. The widespread treacherous conditions have led to a prioritising of National Health Service resources.

Lingfield, however, received a boost this morning when today's all-weather meeting was given the go-ahead following a 6.30am inspection.

A snow-free night helped soothe the situation at the Surrey venue, with temperatures dropping to a relatively balmy minus 3C. There has also been a guarantee over the provision of on-site ambulances.

Clerk of the course Neil MacKenzie Ross said: "Temperatures were nowhere near as low as the previous night, and there are no unforeseen developments.

"Our usual provider is not able to provide ambulances but we've organised cover in places."

Southwell should race today after coming through yesterday's fixture without any further problems.

Saturday's valuable National Hunt card at Ffos Las has already fallen by the wayside with frost and snow currently taking hold at the Welsh venue.

Monday's meetings at Ayr and Taunton have also been called off, while Newcastle need a "small miracle" to race on Tuesday.

Ayr clerk of the course Hazel Peplinski said: "Temperatures got down to minus 9C last night and we think there is around six inches of frost in the ground. It's as bad as I've ever known it."