Racing at Cheltenham abandoned because of high winds

Strong winds made the course too dangerous for spectators on the second day of the world's top jump meeting.

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Thousands were on their way to the course when the decision was taken to abandon racing at 8.30am today.

Today's cancelled races will be accommodated in a 10-race card tomorrow and nine races will be held on Gold Cup day on Friday. Ticket-holders for today will be given full refunds.

Managing director Edward Gillespie made the decision because he could not guarantee the safety of up to 60,000 racegoers who were about to descend on the track.

He said: "The wind speed will remain gusty up to 50mph and that means that many of the temporary facilities will not be safe.

"We have 20,000 people here in temporary accommodation. It's a west wind which would take any debris on to the racecourse. We've cleared the tented village — it's a non-safe site and we cannot guarantee the safety of our customers."

The Queen Mother Champion Chase will now be the fourth race on tomorrow's card.

All original entries will stand but trainers will have the option to withdraw. Thursday's card will be run on the Old Course used on Tuesday. Normally the action for the final two days has been switched to the New Course.

This will mean there are some minor changes to some race distances. Bookmakers will honour all ante-post bets but David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "If punters placed bets yesterday and want to change them now because something like the going changes by the time the races are eventually run, we will void those bets if requested."

C4 will extend its coverage of the final two days to six races.

Gillespie added: "There are still tickets available for tomorrow. We're trying to make the most of a very difficult situation.

"The great thing is all the races will be run over the next two days, there will be no loss of income for the jockeys or trainers, but unfortunately people coming today will not be able to see the races.

"There is a feeling that Cheltenham will always prevail. But with wind speeds of 50mph, you wouldn't normally be racing.

"On advice from all the experts we cannot invite people here today. It's the structural engineers, the people in charge of the temporary structures, the police.

"Everybody has told us there is not a safe environment for people to come here today."

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Racing will now start earlier, at 12.30pm, for the next two days. The last time the Festival was affected was during the Foot and Mouth outbreak seven years ago.

Gillespie said: "The forecast is much better for the next two days. Tomorrow we will use the Old Course, and Friday we will use the New Course."

Irish trainer Dessie Hughes, who had three entries today, including Schindlers Hunt in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, expressed his shock at the announcement.

He said: "I'm very surprised - at the moment you'd race. We can't do very much at this stage and we will have to wait until tomorrow."

Jockey Barry Geraghty added: "It's very windy, but it's fine. It's frustrating and it's going to be a long, drawn-out day waiting for tomorrow."

Tom Cooper, who was due to saddle Forpadydeplaster in the opening Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle, was unfazed by the decision of the Cheltenham executive.

"It won't bother 'Pady' - he's very relaxed - and it doesn't bother me. It won't make any real difference when racing goes ahead."