Racing: Sandown snowed off

TODAY'S card at Sandown was an early casualty of the weather in the weekend racing programme. Stewards at the track abandoned the meeting yesterday morning, realising the situation was hopeless when snow fell on the waterlogged track.

Rain, snow and frost threatens other meetings. Haydock, featuring the valuable Newton Chase, is in danger and officials have called an inspection at 7am today.

Philip Arkwright, the clerk of the course, warned frost and freezing fog were forecast.

The other turf meeting in Britain - at Warwick - has a fair chance of going ahead, track officials said. No problems were reported for the all- weather fixtures at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Prospects are good for today's card at Leopardstown, which includes Ireland's richest handicap hurdle, The Ladbroke. Snow on the course was melting and the weather was mild yesterday.

Lingfield's turf meeting scheduled for Monday is in serious doubt. An inspection is planned for 1pm today.