Abandoned

Unsafe track conditions

There was something odd in first race, a half-dolled off (if that's possible) fence I think - almost totally confused the jocks.

Looked fine for those 3 in the first race - how unsafe?

Another day another farce. When it it become unsafe? 12.00 1.00 2.00...

Has the weather been that extreme, didn't think anywhere in country has had it that bad, very strange.

Can anyone on here remember the last time an Irish meeting was abandoned halfway thru?

, wrong kind of grass.

i can rem one 2 or 3 yrs ago wes, went after a few races because of similar unsafe, hunt follows lud and exe which went for the same reason

Very sad for all concerned. Too many such events like this one this year.

Is it really this bad or have the become totally risk averse?

Nico seemed to be the chief complainer. His mount in the novice chase was all at sea but the three finishers looked fine.

another fixture abandoned a few races in - I've never seen anything like this in more than 40 years following the sport. It might be that H&S has become all pervasive but I suspect it's more likely that clerks of the course (and the BHA inspector who's meant to check on them) have no bloody clue as to how to manage the ground with the dual challenges of a) climate change and b) trainers reluctant to enter on anything other than good/good to soft.. Can't force trainers to run (although it would be good if owners had a go at trying!) so the various bodies are going to have to try new ways of managing turf in this new climate and not just do what has been done for past 200 years

think the one that caught my eye was last hurdle, landing side, leader looked to spread a touch on landing, maybe my eyes tho

nah horse was just hanging and messy, just had another look

Clerk says it rode differently to what it walked. Tip to Clerks - Do your course inspection on horseback!

Blame Skinto, he'd backed, Bells Of Stamford in the 4.35, which had drifted like a barge all day! He said, F*ck this, I'm phoning the Stewards to get the meeting abandoned!

thats the plan

May as well just sand all the bends, if its unsafe today feck knows what the clerk has been doing, weather has been fairly kind last few weeks.

Tuesday's card at Huntingdon has been abandoned after two races due to unsafe ground.

An inspection was held due to reports of slipping. One jockey in the opening 2m juvenile hurdle raised concern and riders in the 2m7½f novice handicap chase also felt conditions were unsafe.

Just three of the six runners finished in the first chase of the day and the decision was made by clerk of the course Roderick Duncan.

The ground was officially described as good and up to 40mm of water was added to some areas of the track since Saturday.

Duncan said: "After the first race one jockey reported that his horse had slipped. It was evident on the TV pictures and when I walked out and could see the mark.

"Following the first chase we had jockeys coming in and reporting also that they had slipped into the fences. It's a combination that the ground hadn't ridden how I'd expected and the course inspector, the chairman and the stewards had not disagreed with my going description, but we had a really drying wind and it's nearly like we've got spring grass. It's just challenging conditions at the moment.

"I didn't come into this job to put horses on the floor or put jockeys in hospital. I have to agree with those of the opinion that it wasn't safe to continue."

'We'd struggle to put much more water on this course'

The next fixture at the Cambridgeshire racecourse is scheduled for next Tuesday and Duncan admitted it would take "a lot of work" to ensure conditions were safe for racing. There is some rain in the forecast this week, notably on Sunday and Monday.

"This is a heads-up for all racecourses, we'd struggle to put much more water on this course and we'll have to have a conversation regarding the next meeting," Duncan said.

"We'll have to see where we go, quite obviously we'll have to do a lot of work to make sure the track's safe for the meeting on the 11th."

Huntingdon are to email racegoers who booked tickets for the abandoned eight-race card.

If they have not enough water then why do half the job.

Better just to leave to those who do not mind firmer ground.