Race Meetings Cancelled Due to Freezing Temperatures
Racegoers were left disappointed as freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of National Hunt meetings at Sandown and Wincanton.
Sandown officials announced a precautionary inspection at 7:30 am due to concerns about frost and fog. With temperatures remaining below freezing since midnight and no improvement expected until 11 am, the course was deemed unfit for racing.
Wincanton also faced an early inspection after temperatures plummeted to -4.2C overnight, leaving the track frozen in places.
The only fixtures to survive were on the all-weather tracks at Southwell and Wolverhampton, with scheduled start times of 2:47 pm and 4:20 pm respectively.
A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) expressed regret that the sport had been left without afternoon fare, blaming the adverse weather conditions.
Met Office Issues Weather Warnings
Yellow warning for snow: Applies to the Orkney and Shetland Islands until 6 pm today, with potential for travel delays due to 2-5 cm of snow accumulation, possibly reaching 10 cm over high ground.
Applies from 4 pm today until 10 am on Sunday, warning of icy patches on untreated surfaces and potential injuries from slips or falls. This warning covers Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, the Highlands, the Orkney Islands, and Shetland Islands.
Effective from 9 pm today until 6 pm on Sunday, warning of travel delays, icy patches, and potential injuries from slips or falls. The warning area includes Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone.
Applies from midday until 11:59 pm tomorrow, warning of heavy snow and freezing rain, potentially leading to power cuts, travel delays, and injuries from slips or falls. This warning covers areas of mid and north Wales, the Pennines, and other regions.
Counties Most at Risk of Falling Trees
Kent
Devon
Surrey
Norfolk
Cumbria
Cornwall
Hampshire
Greater London
West Yorkshire
Gloucestershire
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
I understand safety is important, but couldn't they have waited a bit longer to see if the weather improved? 😩
Coccinella
The weather warnings are concerning, but surely there are ways to mitigate the risks? Canceling everything seems extreme. 🤔
Muchacha
The BHA needs to get its act together! This isn't the first time races have been canceled due to weather. 🤬
Bella Ciao
The BHA made the right call. It wouldn't be fair to expect horses and jockeys to perform in such conditions. 🐴
Comandante
I'm sure the rescheduled races will be even more exciting now that everyone has had some extra time to prepare. 🐎