Flat racing abandoned at Roscommon The 7:00 and 7:30 races at Roscommon have been abandoned due to ground concerns. Racing will resume at 8:00 for the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Novice Chase, with the Connacht National at 8:30, and the Ladies Day At Roscommon On July 4th Beginners Chase rounding off the action at 9:00. Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "A number have expressed concerns and have reported their horses have slipped on various bends so it has been decided that the remaining flat races have been abandoned. "What we usually do, under similar conditions to this, is put the aerator on all the bends and over the years it has worked a treat. "There was a dry spell for a number of weeks and we tried to anticipate horses slipping and in the past that machine has worked and has given us the results we were looking for and there has been no slippage. "For some reason that I can't explain, they didn't seem to be getting the same 'purchase' today and maybe it's to do with the very recent dry spell and the 2mm of rain we got earlier this afternoon but I can't put my finger on why they were slipping today and not under similar conditions in the past. "The dry spell must be a factor - visually they seem to be getting well in but they're actually only flicking the top off it. "We intend to stage the chase races - it has been watered all during the week and we're happy with it." Colm O'Donoghue, who rode in the first three races, added: "To be fair everyone has done as best as they could and while there's actually a good dig in the ground, the horses aren't able to get a grip. "There were eight runners in the first race - everyone was minding their own business and we weren't riding tight on horses but they still slipped. "I can only speak for my own horse but I nearly came down due to the fact that the horse has slipped - they're putting a print in it but are still slipping. "They're actually getting into it but everyone has done their best and it's just unfortunate." STEWARDS REPORT Following the running of the third race the Stewards received representations from riders C.D. Hayes, K.J. Manning, D.P. McDonogh, C. O'Donoghue, P.J. Smullen and R.P. Whelan regarding the safety of the flat racing surface. Evidence was heard from the riders and from Lorcan Wyer, Clerk of the Course, who stated that while the the going was good, it was quite quick underneath. The flat track had been extensively aerated which is usually sufficient to give good grip but for whatever reason some runners this evening had not been getting adequate purchase on the turf. Having considered the evidence the Stewards ordered the abandonment of the remaining flat races. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
