Newton Abbot to inspect after 'biblical rain' leaves track with standing water

Newton Abbot is to inspect at 7am on Wednesday after being hit by a heavy thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon which left the track's clerk of the course shocked by the downpour.

The heavy spell of rain hit the South Devon track at around 2.30pm and left the course with standing water ahead of a seven-race card which includes one race due to be broadcast on ITV4.

Parts of the region have experienced flooding, and Jason Loosemore, the track's clerk, said it was a 50-50 chance whether the meeting will survive the inspection.

"It's been like biblical rain to be honest," he said. "We've had an awful lot of standing water around the place and we'll have to take a look in the morning and see if it's subsided and, when it has got into the ground, make sure it's stable.

"I was shocked by it. It rained from lunchtime and it was steady but then it went black with a really dark sky. We're out there moving the last rail and it just absolutely hammered down, in stair rods. We knew there was heavy, thundery weather about but we thought we'd miss it."

It is now forecast to remain dry until late morning with potential showers up until the first race at 1.15.

"We'll take a look at 7am," added Loosemore. "I'd say we're a 50-50 – I couldn't be any braver than that after what I've just seen."

Newton Abbot was not the only track to suffer in the downpours hitting Britain on Tuesday as Wetherby had to abandon its evening meeting because of waterlogging.

York recorded some rain on Tuesday but nothing like the quantities Newton Abbot have hadCredit: Edward Whitaker

There has also been rain at York, although considerably less, and conditions remain good, good to soft in places ahead of the first day of the three-day Dante festival on Wednesday.

William Derby, York's clerk of the course, said: "We had a heavy shower this afternoon and it's been off and on light rain since.

"When I walked the track it was good, good to soft in places and it wouldn't be a million miles off good all round, but we've had 4mm since then and the rain is due to clear away this evening.

"Tomorrow looks largely dry but with the chance of showers and a showery forecast as you'd expect for the time. We'll assess the ground in the morning.

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