Musselburgh's Saltire St Andrew's Day card was called off just after 1pm yesterday, around an hour after the original scheduled start and following a fourth inspection at the East Lothian track.
Temperatures dipped to minus two overnight and despite take-offs and landings being covered, certain parts of the course were struggling to thaw out under the low winter sun. At the time of abandonment, ground staff were moving rails to try and bypass the problem areas.
After an initial look at 8am proved inclusive, a further inspection was called at 10.30am but again conditions had only improved slightly.
A noon inspection was then announced with the first race put back 30 minutes to 12.40pm and that was followed by an announcement that a final call would be made at 1pm with races to be staged at 25 minute intervals if the meeting got the go ahead at another new start time of 1.10pm.
Stipendary steward Adrian Sharpe said: "There were areas of the track that the stewards felt were still unraceable and it was impractical to bypass them all."
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