Racing: Stewards in cold sweat

DAWN patrols across frozen turf are keeping track officials busy as racing continues to be hit by the cold weather. Yesterday's meeting at Fontwell was called off after an early morning inspection.

Cliff Griggs, the clerk of the course, said parts of the track were frozen and regretted that a forecast thaw failed to arrive in time. That left Wolverhampton's all-weather Flat card the only surviving fixture and it could be another blank day on the turf today.

Snow and frost caused Sedgefield's card to be called off yesterday - the 12th abandonment since the start of last week. Racing at Huntingdon is subject to a stewards' inspection at 7.15am today. Clerk of the course, Hugo Bevan, said: 'We could have raced today but the forecast is not good.'

At Doncaster, where racing is scheduled tomorrow, course official Charlie Moore warned: 'There has been frost overnight, and we have had both snow and rain today.'