Jumps racing heads into deep freeze

JUMPS racing at Folkestone was given the go-ahead yesterday, only for the meeting to be abandoned as a heavy snow shower left the track treacherous and unraceable with the runners circling at the start for the first race.

The confused horses were led back to the stables, and officials reluctantly informed racegoers the meeting was off, despite the Kent course passing inspections at 7.30 and 11.45 - just 35 minutes before the first race. Clerk of the course Andrew Waitt said: "I'm absolutely gutted as the team worked incredibly hard to try to get racing on but the decision was taken out of our hands. Ice was balling under the horses hooves at the start and when they cantered back to the stands it was coming out.

"The stewards decided in the interests of safety to abandon."

Tomorrow's meeting at Ayr was also called off yesterday due to a frozen track. Clerk of the course Emma Marley had called a noon inspection after temperatures fell well below freezing on successive nights. However, officials took a slightly earlier look and opted to call off the card. "We've abandoned as we have a frozen track and are currently unraceable," said Marley. "Daytime temperatures are too low to inspire any thaw and overnight temperatures are set to go down to minus 4C. Prospects were not good."

Market Rasen's intended meeting today has already been lost, while the Catterick fixture for tomorrow was also called off. Plumpton's chances of racing tomorrow hinge on an inspection today, while racing at Wincanton on Thursday is also subject to an inspection at 10am.