Haydock’s two-day fixture later this week has been cancelled after a Tuesday 1pm inspection deemed the inner course unsuitable for racing. The decision follows a significant drainage problem that emerged at Saturday’s meeting, when a hole was discovered on the outer course and three races had to be abandoned.
The issue first came to light after Friendly Soul took a misstep in the Hedge of Oak Stakes, prompting officials to examine the surface more closely. As a precaution, the remaining sprint races, including the Sandy Lane Stakes and the Temple Stakes, were moved to the inner track. Although the inner course allowed racing to continue, concerns remained about its condition after sustaining use across several days.
Clerk of the course Dan Cooper said the cancellation was not the result of any new discovery linked to the drainage issue on the outer course. Instead, he explained that the inner track had already hosted three days of racing in recent days and had not recovered enough to meet normal standards. After discussions with the British Horseracing Authority, both parties agreed that more time was needed for the ground to recover.
Cooper said the plan had been to stage Friday and Saturday’s meetings on the inner track, with the outer course unavailable because of the hole that appeared on Saturday. However, he said the state of the surface meant it could not safely or satisfactorily support another full fixture so soon. External drainage specialists and agronomists remain on site, with investigations continuing into the cause of the hole and excavation work still under way. No final conclusion has yet been reached.
The cancelled Saturday card was due to feature five races shown live on ITV, including the Listed Achilles Stakes and the Group 3 Lester Piggott Stakes. Haydock and the BHA are now working to reschedule the affected races, with an update expected later in the day. Cooper said finding an alternative venue at short notice is difficult, but that preserving the races is important for British horseracing.
The development is the latest disruption caused by the track problem and has raised further concern about conditions at the venue. Officials are continuing to assess both the immediate damage and the broader implications for upcoming meetings as they attempt to restore normal racing operations.
