Snow has Leopardstown in race against time
Last night the track was covered by five inches of snow in places and bosses are concerned that the venue may not thaw out in time for the start of their Christmas Festival on December 26.
General Manager Tom Burke admitted: “I’ve had better days. On Monday I was very optimistic based on the forecast and condition of the track. The forecast suggested a thaw beginning on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately since then we’ve had heavy snow over two days and it now looks like the thaw may not come until Christmas Day or after.
“The meeting on the 26th is a doubt. We are watching it on an hourly basis and will study it again on Wednesday and will make a decision on Thursday morning at the latest. We are just holding out hope.”
The decision to postpone would be a massive financial blow to Leopardstown.
Burke continued: “The Christmas Festival makes up 35% to 40% or our annual income. If we lose St Stephen’s Day we would be praying that the other days would be okay. We will reassess things on a day by day basis. There is little more we can do as forecast is changing so rapidly.”
Limerick General Manager Russell Ferris is “relatively confident” that a full programme will go ahead at his course beginning on St Stephen’s Day.
He said: “We are in a better position that Leopardstown given we have no snow. We had bright blue skies here yesterday with temperatures of minus four during the day and minus eight the night before.
“If the forecasted thaw comes as predicted we should be fine. The frost is about half inch to an inch into the ground which means it should thaw quickly. We are banking on a rise in temperatures on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day morning. If that comes we will be fine.”
The December 26th meetings at Towcester and Down Royal have fallen victim to the weather.
