What should have been a run-of-the-mill so called 'Industry Day' at Punchestown yesterday turned into utter farce for the few brave and hardy souls that turned up at the Kildare venue yesterday when the meeting was abandoned after the opener, writes Brian Fleming.
Everything was going to plan, especially for championship leader Pat Smullen, when he extended his advantage at the head of the title race after scoring on Dermot Weld's Honour The Pledge in the EBF Maiden.
Moments after the Offaly rider had notched up his 73rd victory to go twelve clear of nearest pursuer John Murtagh, outsiders Patrizio (Johnny Gooney) and Pidgeon Top (Stephen Craine), after finishing out of the frame, slipped up fifty yards past the winning post which sparked off an investigation into the state of the ground.
The paltry attendence were left in the dark as bookmakers priced up their boards for the 2.30 and a public address announcement only informed the Punchestown faithful, some nine minutes after the off-time, that the ground was been examined by the officials and there would be a half-hour delay to racing.
It soon became clear the ground was unraceable due to several of the newly laid mole drains collapsing at the end of the back straight and after the winning post and the stewards had no option but to abandon the meeting.
'I apologise to the public and racing professionals,' remarked course manager Charlie Murless before he added, 'We underwent a major mole-draining exercise after the Festival last May and I'm hoping the problem is limited and localised.'
'We had no problem at our meeting here on Sunday but we did have a lot of rain overnight. Safety is always number one and I think the appropriate decision was made,' Murless concluded.
For the few brave souls that turned up, they were each handed a voucher which entitles them to free admission at any one of the next three meetings and a free racecard. The next fixture is planned for Thursday week but what odds about that taking place now?
BF Update
