Dry weather has forced the cancellation and transfer of October jumps races, with more disruption likely. After a summer of drought, the BHA announced last week that the first major race meeting of the core jumps season will feature no races over fences due to lack of rain.
Chepstow and Ludlow affected
Chepstow's three-day Welsh Racing Festival from Friday October 9 to Sunday October 11 will be hurdles only, while Ludlow's meeting on October 7 was also cancelled, with the track deemed unraceable.
Wincanton moves to Market Rasen
On Friday the BHA announced further programme changes after the Jockey Club cancelled Wincanton's season opener, scheduled for October 25. It will now take place at Market Rasen on the same date. Two additional fixtures have been added on October 15, at Fontwell and Perth.
The season's first jumps fixture at Exeter on October 15 has been cancelled, and the track's second meeting on October 20 is potentially in doubt.
BHA response
Tom Byrne, BHA Head of Racing and Betting, said: "The challenges facing Jump racecourses and participants continue with limited rain falling across the country.
"We have taken the opportunity to replace Exeter with a fixture at Fontwell Park, as well as adding an extra fixture into the programme at Perth to make use of their track following their summer season. We expect both tracks to be able to offer ground on the easier side of good.
"We continue to work with racecourses to support the delivery of the jumping programme, however as we enter October with still no significant rain in the forecast, we expect that challenge to get harder before it gets easier."
Jockey Club statement
The Jockey Club said at Exeter there was "limited watering capacity and very little rain in the forecast, conditions are unlikely to improve sufficiently to provide safe ground for racing.
"We are exploring alternative options should Exeter's second fixture (Tuesday 20th October) need to be cancelled. We will continue to closely monitor the weather forecast and ground conditions and provide an update as soon as possible."
The Jockey Club added that no decision has been made regarding Kempton Park's first jumps fixture of the season on October 18 but "ground conditions are not fit for jump racing at present".
