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I suppose by rights I should be applauding the fact that racing at Taunton has been given the go ahead today.
However I think it is a crassly irresponsible decision to have racing anywhere today.
Road conditions across the country are terrible – I did set off for Taunton when I heard it was going ahead but after only a couple of miles I turned back.
The racing surfaces at the tracks may be clear but road conditions are terrible – should we have horse boxes making unecessary journeys when it is more important for supplies to get through to shops and for essential services to operate?
Much as I love my racing and much as I am really missing the turf action I cannot help but think there are more important things to be concerned about at the moment.
I normally agree with you on most things Paul, but not on this. It’s only a bit of snow… Things don’t come to a standstill in places like Canada, Switzerland etc. for a bit of snow. It’s down to the individuals concerned to make a decision – trainers to travel horses, racegoers to attend.
I respect your decision to turn back, but others could still have a good day.
I thought the same when I set off but having seen two jack knived lorries in the short distance I travelled I soon changed my opinion
Unfortunately this is not Canada or Switzerland and our infrastructure seems to fall apart.
I cannot speak for all the country but certainly round here the gritting on teh main roads has not worked.
Southwell resembles Helsinki in December, team. 5mph even for the diehards. God knows what Racecourse Road will be like today.
I heard today that Bristol City Council has run out of grit.
What do we pay these useless bureaucrats for, exactly?
I see Southwell are looking at 9:30 – not to do with the track but travel conditions
It will be difficult for the horseboxes, Paul, never mind the racegoers. And the snow is still falling on top of the existing sludge.
That is what I feared and also why I made my initial comments.
Much as I want to see racing go ahead – even an AW meeting. I think the bigger picture also needs to be considered.
Heaven forbid that a horsebox slides off the road or a potential racegoer is injured as the result of an accident.
I consider myself to be a reasonable and confident driver – I was taught to drive by a police driving instructor, including skid pan training, so am probably well prepared for these conditions.
However even I did not like it out there and felt uneasy this morning.
You make fair and accurate comments there, more’s the pity. Could have done with an afternoon at the races.
Just been out again. 1/100 an abandonment, I reckon. Not seen snowfall like this for years.
Could have done with an afternoon at the races.
You and me both – I am starting to get stir crazy sitting here.
I was even considering AW meetings – that’s how bad it is
Tomorrow isn’t looking too good either – my order of preference for tomorrow was Fontwell, Bangor, Kempton. It now looks as though I may have to settle for Southwell or Wolves – but even then the forecast looks grim.
Bristol City Council have not run out of grit, BennyB.
According to their spokesperson on Radio Bristol, they still have half a barn of the stuff, with another delivery expected soon.
LOL…those four walls must be really grating if you’re considering the AW!!
Forecast isn’t brilliant for tomorrow either, though the snow is supposed to cease early evening. Max temperature is predicted to be a sweltering three degrees tops.
I cannot speak for all the country but certainly round here the gritting on teh main roads has not worked.
Which gritting would that be, Paul?
I’m working from home for the third time this week today, all under duress, because the commute to and from Chesham is no better than extremely tricky and at worst lethal (and like yourself, I consider myself a pretty adept poor-weather driver).
What’s annoying is that today’s probably the least worst of the three days in terms of actual snow and ice quantities, but is rendered more so as the gritting in this part of the world, which was minimal to start with, has stopped to nil completely.
Herts Council, meanwhile, has announced it has all but run out of salt (methinks they skimped on the order this year and have been caught trousers down) and is trying to source more from abroad – given Luton Airport isn’t functional just now, I’m not sure how they’re going to get that in any time soon.
Apparently Britain used to win wars and stuff.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
GC, we won wars because
everyone
was out there with the Saxa and the spades at some point.
We all ought to meet again at Newbury tomorrow morning with our shovels and rakes, just like avid fans of football clubs used to do before important cup games. The Tote Gold Trophy is a race well worth saving…
It’s funny the difference a few miles makes Jeremy .
I was speaking to someone else near you this morning and they were saying it wasn’t as bad today – yet here in MK we have the worse weather so far – we have had 4-5 inches overnight, although it has stopped now. Conditions are certainly a lot worse then the other morning.
I’m not sure if it is MK council or the Highways Agency who are responsible for the grid roads here but the only one that was reasonably clear was the one near the Hospital. Apparently the M1 is not too good at the moment either.
I have just spoken to Southwell.
Currently racing is still going ahead but it is still snowing and "we are keeping a close watch."
Paul, can the authorities at Taunton be expected to make a decision of the safety of roads outside their immediate vicinity?
If the roads around Taunton are safe then I think it is fair enough for them to go ahead. Reportedly, they had a light dusting of snow and if that is the situation with all points west, trainers such as Nicholls, Tizzard, Dartnall etc. would be a bit miffed if the meeting was called off because of road conditions further east.
The decision about the safety of the horse-carriers should be made by the trainers, surely.
Just my opinion, of course.
Colin
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