Musselburgh pulls plug on Thursday jumps meeting

The East Lothian course pulled the plug on the fixture with daytime temperatures falling, expected overnight freezing conditions and a forecast of snowfall tomorrow.

General manager Bill Farnsworth also revealed the racecourse was unable to accommodate an additional meeting proposed by the British Horseracing Authority to be held next Wednesday, 13 January.

Musselburgh have to secure agreement with neighbouring Musselburgh Links golf course to stage extra-curricular race meetings as golfing is halted during a race meeting. On this occasion it was unable to do so and therefore had to decline the BHA offer.

Mr Farnsworth said: “While the weather was kind to us for our Betway New Year’s Day meeting and we were lucky to stage an outstanding card on New Year’s Day, this time the weather has gone against us. However, we have been able to make an early decision, giving owners, trainers and jockeys as much notice as possible that we were abandoning our 7 January fixture.

“We were in a position to transfer the 7 January fixture to next Wednesday but our request to close the golf course to allow racing to proceed was declined, so it has not been possible on this occasion.”

The next scheduled race day (behind closed doors) at Musselburgh is the Betway Rabbie Burns Jumps Meeting on Tuesday 22 January.