The British horse racing industry faced a complete shutdown on Monday, 5th January 2026, as a relentless cold spell forced the abandonment of all three scheduled fixtures. The wipeout included the supposedly resilient all-weather meeting at Wolverhampton, leaving punters without any domestic racing action.
All-Weather Track Succumbs to Winter's Grip
Hopes for the day had rested on Wolverhampton's synthetic surface after the earlier loss of the jumps cards at Lingfield and Ludlow, where temperatures plunged as low as -7°C. However, despite the first race not being due until 4pm, the meeting was called off following two morning inspections.
The track was covered by three-quarters of an inch of snow and a heavy overnight frost. Officials stated that while air temperatures had risen, the ground temperature remained stubbornly low, preventing the snow from melting. "The snow remains suspended within the material therefore we have taken the decision to abandon tonight," a spokesperson explained.
Jumps Calendar in Disarray
This incident is part of a wider disruption caused by an extended cold snap. The National Hunt (jumps) calendar has been severely impacted, with every meeting up to and including Thursday already abandoned due to snow and frozen ground. The last jumps fixture to successfully take place was at Sandown on Saturday.
The situation for midweek looks bleak. Wednesday will be another blank day for jumps racing after Leicester's card was called off due to a frozen track. Clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson reported temperatures as low as -8°C, calling it their coldest night of the winter so far. He warned the deep frost is now firmly "in the ground."
Looking Ahead: Further Inspections Planned
The racing programme now looks to Tuesday for potential action. Wolverhampton is scheduled to stage another fixture, while Southwell's all-weather track also offers an option. Southwell had provided the only domestic betting shop action on Sunday after being a late addition to the programme.
For jumps fans, the next planned cards are at Taunton and Catterick on Thursday. However, the situation remains precarious, with Catterick calling an 8am inspection for Tuesday to assess the state of its course. The industry now watches the forecasts closely, hoping for a sustained thaw to rescue the beleaguered winter schedule.
