Racing at Ayr on Monday fell foul of the weather but that didn't
stop champion jockey Tony 'A.P.' McCoy from putting in an
appearance at the track.
The 15 time champion is bidding to become BBC Sports Personality
of the Year on Sunday and is literally popping up at racecourses up
and down the country by way of cardboard cut outs in a bid to win
votes.
Ayr Racecourse Clerk of the course Emma Marley and Lindsey Smith,
Sales and Marketing Manager posed with AP, who has ridden more than
3000 winners, at the winning post with the frost still well and
truly in the ground.
Lindsey commented: "It was our intention to publicise Tony
McCoy's bid to become Sports Personality of the Year at Monday's
meeting but sadly the freezing temperatures put paid to that but we
would still urge everyone who's interested in racing to vote McCoy
on Sunday. After all the man is a legend and a great ambassador for
the sport."
Emma added: "We were reasonably hopeful on Saturday would go ahead
but temperatures fell to -4C in the early hours of Sunday morning
and we had to abandon due to the track being frozen."
"At noon on Sunday the temperature was still -1 C and there was no
chance of a significant thaw so we had to call it off."
The next scheduled meeting at Ayr is the New Year Festival on
January 2 and 3 with seven races on both days. Feature race on
January 2 on is the Play Poker At Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase
over two miles four furlongs with prize money of £7800 while on
January 3 the main event is a Novices Chase over two miles.