MUSSELBURGH’S big raceday has been abandoned – with staff ‘truly devastated’ after the track became ‘saturated’ following heavy downpours.
The Scottish venue was due to host a stellar Flat racing card, one of two Premier racedays in Britain this Saturday.
But heavy rain yesterday and this morning has left parts of the track unraceable.
The difficult decision to axe the meeting – the biggest in Britain today and set for a starring role in ITV’s coverage – was made just after 8am this morning.
And it will cost the track at least £100,000 in missed income.
A statement read: “The Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday has been abandoned.
“As a team, we are truly devastated as we had a brilliant day lined up for all our racegoers.
“All ticket holders will receive an email this morning about how to transfer tickets to another raceday or request a refund.
“We regret to inform you that we had 15mm of rain yesterday and a further 3.25mm of rain this morning, which has left the track unfit for racing due to areas of saturated ground.”
Musselburgh’s general manager Bill Farnsworth said: “We got 15mm of rain in the early hours of Good Friday, which was mostly not forecast, and the track mainly took it well.
“However, we knew we couldn’t take much more rain.
“When I left last night the track was OK, but coming in this morning there were big puddles all over the place.
“The course had been taking it well and parts of the track are fine, but sadly areas of the back straight are just so saturated and not fit for racing.
“We had everything set up and ready. It’s hugely disappointing and very frustrating, especially as it’s now blue skies and couldn’t be a more beautiful day, but we had to take a view.
“We looked at moving running rails but that was going on to ground we raced on in February over jumps and also didn’t take the rain well.
“It’s just so wet and any rain we took made a huge difference.”
The late switch-up means ITV will now show two races from Meydan in Dubai instead, where Sir Alex Ferguson is gunning for a £2.7million winner in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Unfortunately that race, due off at 4pm, will not be shown but the earlier 1.50pm and 2.25pm races will.
While a Listed 6f sprint from Cork will also be aired in place of Musselburgh.
The action at Newton Abbot set for today was cancelled earlier in the week.
Musselburgh’s eight-race card was due to get underway at 1.50pm and the big betting race of the day was meant to be the 14-runner Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup over 1m6f.
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