Nottingham abandoned tomorrow

Nottingham's afternoon fixture on Tuesday has been cancelled due to waterlogging.

The East Midlands track was hit by 38mm of rain on Sunday, leaving standing areas of water and the course unraceable.

The seven-race card included the Listed British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes. Yarmouth and Brighton stage the afternoon action in Britain on Tuesday, with Catterick staging an evening meeting.

Cricket grounds use supper soppers to remove water, seem racecourses don't deem these a worthwile investment.

It is rare for me to defend tracks, and racing in general, because many are so poorly run.

But this is an occasion when I must defend Nottingham.

I have seen photos of the standing water and it isn't only the amount of water, it is the fact the ground is waterlogged anyway.

The volume of rain which fell in the East Midlands on Saturday night has by-passed the media. The water table is so high that fresh rainfall is just sitting on the surface.

I doubt any machine could mop up to the extent required, but I doubt such a machine could drive onto the surface anyway because it is so soft and waterlogged.

Fingers crossed that a few dry days will do the trick for the next Nottingham meeting.

Cricket grounds use supper soppers to remove water, seem racecourses don't deem these a worthwile investment.


Yeah cos they are identical and cover the same amount of ground aren't they? You may as well say 'i use a big towel after a shower and I'm dry so why not a racecourse'. Good god.