Folkestone frozen

This afternoon's meeting at Folkestone has been abandoned after the course failed a late inspection.

Course officials had not expected the frost that had hit the track overnight, and a 12 noon inspection was announced as temperatures were still not above freezing in the middle part of the morning.

Having walked the track with a number of jockeys and other officials, clerk of the course Neil MacKenzie Ross was forced to call off proceedings less than 30 minutes before the scheduled first race.

MacKenzie Ross said: "We've gone through the correct procedures and it was a very close decision.

"However the stewards have gone down the equine welfare route and decided it would not be safe to race on those grounds.

"It is a very sensible process, everybody had been out to have a look at the track and we all gave our opinions.

"It's a huge disappointment, especially for me as it is my last day working as clerk here.

"But the weather conspired against us and you have to take horse welfare into account."