Tuesday’s meeting at Huntingdon was abandoned after just two races due to unsafe ground conditions.
Jockeys reported that their mounts were slipping going into obstacles and following a course inspection the remainder of the card was called off.
Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan cited the exceptionally dry summer and autumn as the likely culprit.
“After the first race one jockey reported his horse slipped and that was evident on the television pictures,” Duncan told Racing TV.
“When I walked out to inspect I could see a mark. Following the first chase (second race) we had jockeys reporting they had slipped into the fences.
“It’s a combination of things – the ground hasn’t ridden as it walked. The course inspectors and stewards have not disagreed with my going description, but we have a very drying wind and it’s nearly like spring grass. It’s challenging conditions at the moment.
“I didn’t come into this job to put horses on the floor or jockeys in hospital so I have to agree with the decision that it isn’t safe to continue.
“I don’t think we could physically have done any more to get this meeting on, we struggle to get water on and we’ll have to have a conversation as to regards the next meeting (October 11). Obviously we’ll have to do a lot of work to make sure it is safe.”
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.