A big bank holiday crowd left Chepstow racecourse disappointed in mid-afternoon on Monday after the stewards ordered the abandonment of racing at the Welsh track due to “the unsafe condition of parts of the racing surface”.
Only two races were run at the meeting, which is one of the most popular Flat fixtures of the year at Chepstow, and both were followed by inspections of the track involving jockeys, trainers and officials. After the first race, over six furlongs, a decision was taken to proceed with the next event on the card over the same trip but with the stalls moved three yards down the track.
A subsequent inspection after the second race, however, looked into concerns about false patches of ground both on the straight course and on the bend into the home straight, and one rider appeared to pull a large clod of turf and mud from the course. The stewards decided racing should be abandoned shortly afterwards.
Chepstow, like most of Britain’s tracks, has received plenty of rain in recent days and the official going was changed to soft, from good-to-soft, soft in places, after the first race. While the decision to abandon the meeting was ultimately a straightforward one, however, questions may be asked about how and why two races were run on the course before the meeting was called off. It is also possible the British Horseracing Authority will seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the abandonment.
Had racing been abandoned before the first race spectators would have been entitled to a full refund of the cost of their ticket. Since two races were run, however, they are due only a 50% refund under the terms and conditions of purchase of Arena Racecourse Company (Arc), which operates the course.
Ripon 1.55 Golden Circle 2.30 Jenoow 3.00 Iconic Choice 3.35 Raydiance 4.05 Armandihan 4.35 Give It Some Teddy 5.05 Urban Spirit
Epsom 2.10 Capla Gilda 2.45 War Eagle 3.15 Desert Frost (nb) 3.50 Amanto 4.20 Dourado (nap) 4.55 Fresh Terms 5.25 N Over J
Chelmsford 4.50 Not So Shy 5.20 Sky Gypsy 5.50 Field Gun 6.20 He’s Our Star 6.50 Dolcissimo 7.20 Art Of Swing 7.50 Precision
Stratford-On-Avon 5.10 Hatcher 5.40 Walk Waterford 6.10 Guerilla Tactics 6.40 Cillian’s Well 7.10 Romanor 7.40 Holeinthewall Bar
Tips by Greg Wood.
Too Darn Hot, second-favourite for next year’s Derby, could make the second start of his career in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.
