Friday and Saturday cards at Lingfield will now be run on the all-weather
PICTURE: Getty ImagesRain forces Lingfield switch to Polytrack
SATURDAY'S meeting at Lingfield, featuring the Group 3 Betfred Derby Trial, will be run on the course's all-weather track after officials abandoned any hope of racing on the turf due to waterlogging.
Friday's card, which was due to consist of five races on the turf and two on the all-weather, has also been switched to the Polytrack following an inspection of the turf track on Tuesday.
"We've had bits and pieces of rain over the weekend amounting to 10mm and it's falling on ground that is already totally saturated," said clerk of the course Neil Mackenzie Ross on Tuesday.
He added: "Parts of the track are waterlogged and with upwards of an inch forecast tomorrow night, we've abandoned racing on the turf track."
Saturday's card also features the Listed Betfred "The Bonus King" Oaks Trial and Group 3 Betfred Mobile Chartwell Fillies' Stakes and Mackenzie Ross said the decision to switch such high profile races was not taken likely.
He added: "The trainers we've spoken to have been very supportive of switching to the all-weather and it means that we'll have racing, which with the current forecast would not have been possible on the turf."
Entries made for Friday's card will stand, while trainers will be required to re-enter for Saturday's racing.
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