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Given the conditions at Southwell today, I was incredulous when I read this on the RP website this evening;
TWO inches of snow on Tuesday has left Wolverhampton’s Polytrack unraceable and put Friday’s meeting at the track in jeopardy
No inspection has been planned at present, although Fergus Cameron, clerk of the course at Wolverhampton, will be monitoring the situation over the next few day’s.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Cameron said: “We’ve had two inches of snow today, which is lying on the course.
“At present we’re unraceable and temperatures are forecast to be very low for the rest of the week. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep everyone updated.”
Unbelievable that they can’t find the manpower or equipment to work the track under circumstances that have rarely threatened AW racing before – even with 3 days notice.
Surely not?I think the problem is, Wolverhampton is a glorified dog track. I doubt they have the funds to launch the kind of clean up operation that may be required.
Harsh? Perhaps. I actually like Wolves but I can’t imagine they’re swimming in resources.
Do they not have plows or snowblowers? Woodbine in Canada does just fine.
I’d imagine Woodbine is more used to having snow than Wolverhampton!
I don’t think it’s just the course actually. Access roads to it, are not the best. I certainly wouldn’t entrust my horsebox down them if it was icey.
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Abandoned – now there’s a surprise.
Why, when all the other AW tracks can work through the night to ensure a raceable surface, does Wolverhampton not seemingly give a toss?Wolverhampton have not been sitting down doing nothing – however despite the work there are balls of ice in the Polytrack which I suspect most trainers / owners / jockeys would not want flying around in the kickback.
It also needs to be remembered the meeting was a twilight meeting so temperatures will be appreciably colder than at an afternoon meeting.
Anyway, as I have repeatedly said before, does it matter if a meeting is cancelled?
If people cannot go a day without having a bet or racing fix then what very sad lives they must lead.
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Paul
“We will continue to monitor the situation and keep everyone updated.” hardly sounds like they’re prepared to move heaven and earth, does it?
Btw, when I need your moralising, I’ll ask for it – until such times, I’d suggest you pull your neck in a little.Btw, when I need your moralising, I’ll ask for it – until such times, I’d suggest you pull your neck in a little.
Bit super-sensitive aren’t we – touched a nerve have I?
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Punters fiending for AW action, never thought I’d see the day!
Temperature in these parts hasn’t risen above freezing since Tuesday and isn’t likely to do so until Sunday, by all accounts. Given what has been said about lumps of ice, the possibility of the approach road/car park being dodgy and the fact that it was a twilight meeting, I’m not surprised by the statement.
Free entry to Wolverhampton during January, by the way, for which the course deserve some credit.
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The point is the ‘lumps of ice’ feature on all the AW surfaces when they’re allowed to stand and freeze, which is why Southwell (for instance) often work the surface all through the night to stop them forming.
If I know this, then Wolverhampton surely should, yet it seems they adopted a laissez faire attitude as far back as last Tuesday.Paul
I have a full & happy life thank you, all the better for not tolerating plonkers telling me how to live it.Fair enough, I’m no expect on the management of Polytrack, but wouldn’t it have meant continually harrowing and working the surface all day/night Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday? As I remember (I stand to be corrected, as ever) the snow started to fall on Tuesday morning (in our area around 8:35am) and the Midlands has been iced up ever since. Whilst it would have been feasible for Southwell to keep up a constant effort for that day’s meeting, Wolverhampton would have had to do it for three days, three nights and a morning.
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I accept what you’re sayinng about the extra work Andrew, but conditions have been similar nationwide and none of the other AW tracks have lost a meeting through the racing surface being frozen; all the others having done whatever’s necessary to avoid it.
With no turf racing for over a week now, and the freeze forecast to continue for another fortnight, it could well be that Wolverhampton won’t be racing at all during the period it was most designed for, for no other reason, (or so it would seem from their press releases) than the management’s indolence.Well I’ve got a sturdy spade, a blowtorch and few hours to spare this weekend. I may pop down there – see if I can’t salvage something for Monday.
Only reason i can think of Wolves not running Tractors overnight is the fact that the course is behind a housing estate so maybe local council rules might mean they cant where as Southwell is out in the middle of nowhere.
I just hope Wolves or even Southwell race next weekend, My need to go racing is getting even worse.
On at least one occasion, after the groundstaff worked long hours trying to make Dunstall Park raceable in freezing and snowy weather, racing was called off despite their efforts.
This was because the jockeys more or less refused to continue racing, because the lumps of ice that fly up from the horses’ hooves were too dangerous. The snow balls up underfoot.Last year, when there was also free admission, hardly any punters bothered to turn up, so, I guess management decided to cut their losses, this time round.
Btw, I’m sure everybody knows that all three AW tracks ( not including Kempton and Dundalk)are under the same ownership. I’m not sure how much independence each course has, but none can control the weather.
Not sure about the point about access roads; I’d say Southwell and Lingfield have smaller lanes to negotiate.
Roll on Easter!
On at least one occasion, after the groundstaff worked long hours trying to make Dunstall Park raceable in freezing and snowy weather, racing was called off despite their efforts.
This was because the jockeys more or less refused to continue racing, because the lumps of ice that fly up from the horses’ hooves were too dangerous. The snow balls up underfoot.Last year, when there was also free admission, hardly any punters bothered to turn up, so, I guess management decided to cut their losses, this time round.
Btw, I’m sure everybody knows that all three AW tracks ( not including Kempton and Dundalk)are under the same ownership. I’m not sure how much independence each course has, but none can control the weather.
Not sure about the point about access roads; I’d say Southwell and Lingfield have smaller lanes to negotiate.
Roll on Easter!
Yep, Sean Rua, Charing on Easter Saturday is always great fun and so is Kimble.
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