Ayr abandoned due to wind damage

This afternoon’s meeting at Ayr has been abandoned due to safety concerns.

Clerk of the course Emma Marley gave the meeting the go-ahead following a 7.15am inspection due to the threat of rain.

However, while the ground is raceable, high winds in the area have taken their toll.

The PA system at the course is not working and officials have called off the meeting due to concerns about the safety of the crowd.

Ayr's head of public relations, Iain Ferguson said: "The very strong winds are actually forecast to ease into the afternoon and that is not why we've had to abandon.

“The problem is in fact a tree that is about to fall which is close to a Racetech truck.

“On health and safety grounds they had to move, but it meant we would have had no scanner and no PA system. You are not allowed to race without a PA system and that is why we’ve had to abandon, not because of the wind.

“It’s incredibly bad luck for the groundstaff who’d made a huge effort to get racing on.”