Wednesday's Ebor race meeting called off

9:06am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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Updated 15:58 YORK'S flagship race meeting suffered a further blow after chiefs were forced to abandon the second day.

James Brennan, York Racecourse marketing manager, said in the light of a severe weather warning officials had "with deep regret" made the decision to call off Wednesday's card.

Mr Brennan said a further inspection was planned at noon on Wednesday to assess the prospects for Thursday and Friday.

"This is disappointing for everybody," he said. "We have made an early decision given the recent rainfall and the issuing of a severe weather warning with more rainfall expected in the next few hours."

Ebor races called off due to rain

TORRENTIAL rain has washed out the first day of York's prestigious Ebor Festival today a day after York Racecourse bosses vowed it would go ahead.

And tomorrow's racing at the venue is in doubt as well, with an inspection of the drenched track at the Knavesmire due this afternoon.

Heavy overnight downpours forced racecourse chiefs to call an 8.30am inspection today, where the track was ruled to be waterlogged and the opening day of the meeting which featured a six-race card including the festival's highest-profile race, the £550,000 Juddmonte International Stakes to be abandoned.

Despite 25mm of rain falling on the course on Saturday night and Sunday morning and further bad weather yesterday, the Racecourse's managers were remaining confident on Monday that the festival would survive the weather.

Today's cancellation means three days of racing in York have now been rained off in the space of 14 months after last year's June meeting had to be cancelled.

Should the course pass its afternoon inspection and racing goes ahead as planned, the British Horseracing Authority has approved the transfer of the three Pattern races which were due to have been held today.

That will mean reverting to a traditional Ebor Festival format, with a seven race card being held on each day.

The feature race of the meeting, the Juddmonte International Stakes, will now form the highlight of the final day on Friday, while the Group 2 Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes moves to Thursday.

The Group 3 Tattersalls Millions Acomb Stakes is transferred to tomorrow with all original declared runners standing along with original race values.

The running order for the remaining three days has been amended.

Commenting on the moves, William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course said; “We are looking forward to three fantastic days of top quality racing after the disappointment of Tuesday.

"Tuesday morning has been mainly dry and rest assured we will do everything in our power to get the racing underway.”