Heavy going once again
No danger of summer jump racing in the north getting the slightest bit summery just yet. Another National Hunt card mean another soaking.
The rain wasn't quite as persistent at Hexham today as it had been at Wetherby on Thursday and there was the very occasional glimpse of that mythical phenomenon sunshine.
But when it rained, it really rained and several times through the afternoon the heavens suddenly erupted, forcing everyone to flee.
One downpour hit at lunchtime while the public address was pumping out the national anthem (to mark the Queen's official birthday) - it was impossible to tell whether people were standing to attention as everyone had dashed for cover.
Of course, there are many worse things to worry about than a spot of bad weather
Ask silver-haired trainer Harry Hogarth, who has found himself re-christened 'Henry' since trainers' names started appearing on racecards.
He expressed his frustration after landing his second winner in a few days and said: "It's all down to Racing For Change - I have been Harry all my life and it's a bit too late to change it now."
And the events of this meeting two years ago put things further into perspective. In 2010 this was the afternoon that Hexham found itself without a commentator when Dougie Fraser did not turn up, for reasons that subsequently became tragically clear.
The judge and the MC both had a go at calling a race in his place but the hero of the hour was young Jack Grummitt, who took to the mic and by all accounts performed one of the hardest jobs of all with some aplomb.
Two years on he was back at Hexham, now working in sport at Northumbria University where he does the odd spot of broadcasting, but his services were not called on this time.
Mark Slater was his usual professional self in the commentary box, helped by a couple of Irishmen who came into the press room to make sure we passed on on to him the correct pronunciation of their Cilliseal - it's kill-ee-shall if the horse's name ever crops up in conversation.
They told us they'd come across for good ground and had little chance now it had turned to heavy. Yet their pride and joy ended up being beaten just a length and a half into second - how far would he have won had it not rained?