RACING CALLED OFF
Monday December 17, 2007
AYR CALLED OFF AFTER
UNEXPECTED FROST
RACING at Ayr was abandoned two
hours before the first race today after an unexpected overnight
frost got into the ground.
Clerk of the Course Katherine Self and Chairman of the Stewards
John Wilson walked the course at 10.20 am and ruled it was
unracebale, a decision that was backed 10 minutes later by senior
jockeys Graham Lee, Richard McGrath and Tom Dreaper.
Katherine said later: "On Sunday we had no frost whatsoever
and temperatures of
+9 degrees in the late morning. The forecast was to drop to 0
degrees, then be dry and sunny today (Monday), around 4 degrees.
"But this morning we had -2 degrees overnight and I called a
precautionary inspection for 8.15am in order to wait for first
light. I then checked again with the Met Office who said the
temperature was rising slowly and may not get above freezing until
mid morning.
"The sun came up at around 9am when the temperature dipped
slightly but temperatures were not rising fast enough and it was
still only -1 degree at 10 am.
"John Wilson arrived at 10am and we made the frustrating
decision to call off racing at 10.20am with temperatures still not
rising quickly enough despite sun up fully.".
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