The British horse racing calendar faced a complete whiteout on Monday, 5th January 2026, as every single scheduled fixture was abandoned due to a relentless cold snap. 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 rested on Wolverhampton's all-weather surface after the National Hunt meetings at Lingfield and Ludlow were called off early. However, despite two morning inspections and work by officials, the track was declared unraceable. It was covered by three quarters of an inch of snow and, crucially, a heavy overnight frost had penetrated the ground.
A statement from the track explained the decision: "Whilst earlier work on the track was positive... the ground temperature has not risen and the snow is not melting, so remains suspended within the material." Temperatures had plunged as low as -7C in the region, defeating even the specialist surface.
Jumps Programme in Deep Freeze
The abandonment at Wolverhampton capped a disastrous period for jump racing. The sport has been decimated by snow and frozen tracks, with every jumps meeting up to and including Thursday already called off. The last National Hunt fixture to successfully take place was at Sandown on Saturday.
Leicester's Wednesday card has been lost, with clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson reporting temperatures as low as -8C, calling it their coldest night of the winter so far. He stated the frost was "really in the ground now," with improved forecasts coming too late.
The only recent relief for betting shops came from a late-added all-weather card at Southwell on Sunday, following the loss of that day's jumps races.
What Happens Next for Racing Fans?
Attention now turns to whether the sport can resume later in the week. Wolverhampton is scheduled to race again on Tuesday, alongside another all-weather fixture at Southwell, though the jumps meeting at Musselburgh is off.
The next planned National Hunt cards are at Taunton and Catterick on Thursday. However, officials at Catterick have already called an 8am inspection for Tuesday due to the ongoing freeze, signalling significant doubt. The extended cold snap continues to hold the racing industry in an icy grip, with the calendar facing further disruption.
