Haydock a late casualty
Today’s meeting at Haydock has been called off due to a frozen track less than 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the first race.
The course had passed a morning inspection but officials had to look again at noon after temperatures failed to rise.
The decision was reached after a second inspection for which officials were joined by a deputation of trainers and jockeys.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy said: “The fences are frozen and as far as the ground is concerned it’s debatable whether they should have raced or not, but I think they have done the right thing.”
Trainer Ferdy Murphy agreed, saying: “I have been out there and the fences are frozen. And as for the ground it’s just 50-50 whether you would run a horse on it or not.”
The six-race card should have begun at 12.40pm and featured the Blue Square I-Card Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase.
