Exeter abandoned after three races as persistent rain leads to unsafe ground

Prolonged heavy rain forced the abandonment of Exeter after three races as a number of the jockeys, including champion rider Richard Johnson, were concerned about the worsening conditions on the already saturated bottom bend (home turn).

Johnson was among a delegation of jockeys and trainers who accompanied the stewards to inspect the bend after the running of the third race on the card won by the Anthony Honeyball-trained odds-on favourite Midnight Tune.

After discussing the matter in the stewards’ room the decision was taken to call off the remainder of the card by chief steward Simon Cowley with the jockeys and trainers present all in agreement.

Cowley said: “Following concerns raised by the jockeys about the badly cut up and wet ground on the shared bend on the home turn, the stewards inspected that part of the course accompanied by a delegation of jockey and trainers.

“Having viewed the area of ground and heard their evidence the stewards took the decision to abandon the meeting on the grounds of safety, due to the waterlogged ground on that part of the track.”

Johnson said: “The bottom bend on the track is sodden after all the rain they have had and it's not safe. It's the right decision in the circumstances as they've done well to get three races in given the very bad weather. The rest of the course is fine so it’s a shame.”

Joe Tizzard was among the delegation which inspected the bend and he said: “It’s the right decision in my opinion to call the remainder of the meeting off as the jockeys felt it was not fit to carry on racing and safety to horses and riders is paramount in these cases.”

The course had survived an early-morning inspection at 8am and another look three hours later but continuous rain before the opener and the two other races that were run had exacerbated the problems on the bottom part of the course which is lower than the remainder of the track.

Clerk of the course Dan Cooper said: “We gave the meeting every chance as we were fine when we inspected earlier in the day but another inch of rain fell between 11am through to the three races we managed to get on. In the end nature has won out.

“We had decided to take stock after every race in the circumstances by asking the jockeys if they were happy with the conditions. They all said it was fine for the first two hurdle races but after the first chase they felt things had got a lot worse and the stewards have decided to call off the rest of the meeting.”

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