Navan races abandoned after fourth

Racing at Navan today was abandoned after the fourth race due to some safety issues arising out of the ground conditions after some of the top jockeys expressed concern about parts of the track at bends approaching the home straight and entering the back straight.

The jockeys included Meath men Barry Geraghty and Robbie Power along with Ruby Walsh and they met with Clerk Of the Course Paddy Graffin before the 3.25 race, the Albany Hurdle for which Noel meade had a fancied runner.

There were reports of horses slipping in the first four races and following consultation, the meeting was abandoned in the interests of safety.

Noel Meade, formerly a director at the track, stated “what happened was the ground got very firm during the dry summer and they watered the ground to get as it as good as they could. However what happened was the water just penetrated the top two inches and then we'd a shower of rain today.

“Under that the ground it is very firm so they were knocking the top off it and just sliding. Practically every horse was slipping on that bend past the stands and on the bend up the top and it was getting worse not better as the day went on.

“I would have thought for everybody's sake, horses and jockeys, it wasn't safe and I don't think it was that difficult a call to make really.”

 

Conall Collier