Sandown Saturday races cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances

Sandown’s Meeting Abandoned Due to Waterlogged Track

A highly anticipated meeting at Sandown on Saturday, featuring the prestigious £100,000 Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase, has unfortunately been called off due to unfavorable track conditions. The decision was made by Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper and his team after a precautionary inspection.

The inspection took place at 8am on Friday when the track was initially deemed suitable for racing. However, with heavy rain forecasted for Thursday evening, concerns were raised about the possibility of a waterlogged track.

Unfortunately, these concerns proved valid as more rainfall than expected hit the Esher venue. A staggering 34mm of rain was recorded between 2pm yesterday afternoon and 4am this morning. As a result of this excess downpour, multiple areas on both the chase and hurdle tracks became waterlogged and false ground appeared alongside areas filled with standing water.

Cooper explained: “We’ve had an extraordinary amount of rain – far beyond what we had predicted or hoped for. It started raining around 2pm yesterday and didn’t ease off until early this morning.”

“The ground is now completely saturated and won’t have time to improve before raceday.”

No Hope for Improvement in Time

The unfortunate reality is that there are currently no viable options available for realignment or any significant improvement within a day’s time frame.

Cooper further expressed his skepticism about any substantial improvements occurring within 24 hours, stating: “It’s basically saturated ground that is going to remain this way for the next few days.”

He also mentioned the unfortunate timing of this excessive rainfall, coinciding with an already wet period since Christmas.

A Disappointing Outcome

The abandonment of Sandown’s meeting due to a waterlogged track has left horse racing enthusiasts disheartened. This particular event was highly anticipated and boasted a lucrative prize fund of £100,000 for the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

However, sometimes nature doesn’t align with our plans and unforeseen circumstances arise. In this case, it was an extraordinary amount of rain that fell at an inconvenient time causing irreparable damage to the track.

Moving Forward

While disappointing news for all involved, health and safety must always take precedence. The decision made by Cooper and his team ensures the welfare of both horses and jockeys remains paramount.

Racing enthusiasts will now eagerly await future meetings at Sandown in hopes of witnessing thrilling races on more favorable conditions.