NEWBURY races have been hit by big delays after a colossal deluge and thunder hammered the track.
The first race of their International Weekend was due off at 1.25pm.
It certainly looked bleak at Newbury after the first race was delayed due to 5mm of rain falling
But the weather took an almighty turn for the worse with 5mm of rain falling in a matter of minutes.
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The runners were back out into the pre-parade ring at around 1.40pm with the first race scheduled off at 1.55pm.
But the delay will have a knock-on effect to the rest of the eight-race card.
And it was anyone’s guess what the ground was truly like for the first, a 12-runner handicap over 6f.
A post from the racecourse on X read: “Horses are heading to the pre-parade ring with the intention of today’s racing commencing at 1:55pm.
“Following the delay, races will be run with shortened, 30 minute intervals.”
The first race was finally off at 1.57pm – a full 32 minutes later than planned – and won by 3-1 Shameful, a horse whose pedigree suggested he would like softer ground.
Although Newbury bosses planned to make up the time between races it was not immediately clear what time the following races would be off.
Although punters might want to side with horses who like a bit of juice in the ground.
Especially as the turf looked to be kicking up as the horses got within the final furlong of the opener.
More to follow.
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