Weather plays havoc with racing schedule

Wolverhampton is the only British race meeting to go ahead today after snow and frost claimed the jumps cards at Fontwell and Fakenham.

Wolverhampton are ready to stage their first meeting for two weeks after carrying out essential drainage at the track.

The West Midlands venue lost a meeting to rain on December 1 and their midweek meetings have been staged at Southwell for the last two weeks.

Temperatures fell below freezing at Dunstall Park overnight but clerk of the course Jon Pullin is expecting no problems.

He said: “The temperature went to minus two during the night but the track was worked right through and is fine. We have had no snow.

“Temperatures are due to get up to plus four or five today so we are going to be OK.”

Fakenham were the first to abandon this morning.

Officials called a 6am inspection but the track was found to be unraceable and more snow is forecast for the area later in the morning.

“We got about an inch and a half of snow overnight and there are more flurries forecast to still come through,” said clerk of the course David Hunter.

“The forecasters tell me there will be snow flurries until at least midday which means it will just not shift in time.”

Officials at Fontwell checked the track at 7am and although there was frost, they decided to look again at 9am.

However, conditions had not improved since early this morning and they decided to abandon earlier than planned.

Phil Bell, general manager at the track, said: “We have been out there now and it’s hopeless. The wind chill factor is minus three and the frost doesn’t look like coming out so we’ve made an early decision.”