Frozen Ascot forced to cancel high-profile Clarence House Chase card
Ascot's Clarence House Chase card has been called off due to frozen ground and the BHA is reportedly looking at rescheduling the Grade 1 contest.
Saturday's meeting was called off on Thursday afternoon as temperatures fell to -1.75C at the Berkshire track on Wednesday night and are forecast to remain below freezing for the next two nights.
In 2013 and 2017 the Clarence House was staged at Cheltenham when Ascot had to cancel the card. No contingency plan has been made yet but Ascot said the fixture would not be staged there on Sunday instead.
Chris Stickels, Ascot's clerk of the course, said: "It's disappointing. We haven't been fit to race since first thing Tuesday morning and it hasn't improved sufficiently. We're not fit for racing currently as it's frozen in places and there's no more prospect of it improving enough."
The BHA has had discussions with Ascot about potentially rescheduling the race elsewhere. It falls to the BHA to confirm arrangements.
Stickels said: "When I had discussions with them [the BHA] they were looking at whether they would reschedule it, but because it's a Pattern race it's down to them to get those wheels in motion.
"We're happy for them to stage it somewhere else if they want to, in the past it's gone to Cheltenham and it's just a shame we weren't able to stage it this weekend."
Read this next:
Which tracks are inspecting and how are things looking for rest of the week?
The world's number 1 horse racing app just got better! Download the brand new Racing Post app for free to experience our new game-changing odds comparison, exclusive daily big-name tipping and unrivalled app-only content. Click here to download the latest version.
Published on inNews
Last updated
- Join Racing Post Members' Club for the very best in racing journalism - including Patrick Mullins' unmissable trip to see Gordon Elliott
- Join the same team as Ryan Moore, Harry Cobden and other top jockeys with 50% off Racing Post Members' Club
- Racing Post Members' Club: 50% off your first three months
- 'It’s really exciting we can connect Wentworth's story to Stubbs' - last chance to catch master painter's homecoming
- The jumps season is getting into full swing - and now is the perfect time to join Racing Post Members' Club with 50% off
- Join Racing Post Members' Club for the very best in racing journalism - including Patrick Mullins' unmissable trip to see Gordon Elliott
- Join the same team as Ryan Moore, Harry Cobden and other top jockeys with 50% off Racing Post Members' Club
- Racing Post Members' Club: 50% off your first three months
- 'It’s really exciting we can connect Wentworth's story to Stubbs' - last chance to catch master painter's homecoming
- The jumps season is getting into full swing - and now is the perfect time to join Racing Post Members' Club with 50% off