Underwater racecourses helpless against Storm Babet with mass cancellations and parts of Doncaster ‘unraceable’

UNDERWATER racecourses are totally helpless against Storm Babet with mass cancellations causing chaos.

This startling photo shows Southwell racecourse totally submerged – with no racing there for at least another three weeks.

LNPSouthwell racecourse is completely underwater and has no hope of any racing for at least another three weeks[/caption]

Meetings have been abandoned left, right and centre.

And parts of the Doncaster track are ‘unraceable’ ahead of Saturday’s final Group 1 of the Flat season.

Worcester and Fontwell have been called off today with the Irish meeting at the Curragh also scrapped.

Punters looking for a bet will have to study the cards at Sha Tin in Hong Kong – although racing will go ahead at Newmarket and on the all weather at Kempton.

Doncaster have been forced to ring the changes at their track ahead of their season-closing two-day Festival.

The Kameko Futurity was won by subsequent Derby winner Auguste Rodin last year and is always a pointer towards next season’s top three-year-old.

But with part of their track ‘unraceable’ after a deluge, they have had to switch two races from the round course to the straight.

A statement read: “Due to areas of the 1m round course at Doncaster currently being unraceable, and with no likelihood of improvement before raceday, the BHA have given permission to switch the two Friday races currently scheduled on it to the straight mile course.”

Although less rain is forecast on the track on Thursday and Friday there is a threat of some rain Friday lunchtime.

More than 70mm of rain has battered the track over the past five days.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: “The next band of rain will be on Thursday morning.

“We might have the odd shower during racing on Friday, but not a great deal.

“The feeling is once we get through the rest of today, then the worst of the rain has passed because Thursday’s rain shouldn’t be anywhere as much as that.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez is 13-8 favourite for the contest worth over £125,000 to the winner.

James Doyle picks up the ride with O’Brien’s regular jockey Ryan Moore banned.

Charlie Appleby will look to end a quiet season with a bang with his 15-8 second-fav Ancient Wisdom.

Meanwhile, Uttoxeter has moved two of its fixtures to Ffos Las as a result of the rain.

Meetings on November 3 and December 12 will now take place at the Welsh track so work can be done to repair Uttoxeter.

And Southwell’s November 2 fixture will now be held at Newcastle.

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