RACING stewards were branded ‘clueless’ over the decision to abandon today’s Ffos Las card just ten minutes before the first race.
And furious punters lashed out at the ‘absolute farce’ as the cold weather continued to cause havoc with fixtures.
The seven-race card was due to start at 12.58pm but it was scrapped just ten minutes before.
That led to a torrent of anger on social media, with jockey James Bowen leading the charge.
In response to a tweet from British Horseracing Authority Stewards saying racing was off, he wrote: “These stewards are clueless everyone there was happy to race.”
With temperatures plunging at the Welsh track the official reason for the cancellation was frost on the ground.
But in response to one follower asking why racing was scrapped, Bowen said: “No idea! There was no frost left!”
Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Jamie Snowden tweeted: “Jockeys and trainers happy with @FfosLasRC ground but #BHA call it off 10 mins before first race.
“Who wants to pay for the transport down there?”
Explaining the decision, clerk of the course Dai Jones said: “We gave it every chance. The weather was supposed to get up to about 4C and unfortunately it was never above 1C.
“The sun came out for about an hour and then went back in.
“We had a delegation of jockeys and trainers come out and look at the track. The racing line was OK but there was still a bit of frost in the ground in the bypass areas.
“Safety is paramount so we had to abandon.”
However social media users slammed the decision coming so late in the day.
One said: “This is becoming farcical. It’s quite clear this should have been called off at the very least at 11am. Crazy.”
Another posted: “Ffos Las off today in ridiculous circumstances.”
One comment read: “Stewards had a mare at Ffos Las, feel bad for everyone who travelled down there today.”
A fellow user said: “What an utter shambles and waste of everyone’s time!”
While another wrote: “Complete madness. My sympathies to everyone who made the journey.”
Meanwhile, Chepstow, another Welsh course, will undergo an inspection tomorrow morning to see if it can hold the Welsh Grand National.
The showpiece race was due to be held on December 27 but had to be scrapped.
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