STRATFORD Racecourse suffered another blow as Friday's frost bit deep and caused the abandonment of Saturday's rearranged card, writes Mervyn Collins.

The meeting was an additional one following the cancellation of the Christmas week event - the second successive year that that particular fixture had fallen foul of the elements.

"It was bad luck," said Clerk of the Course Stephen Lambert. "I had a look on Friday lunchtime and it was just about raceable.

"Despite the freezing temperatures, the good growth of grass had kept the frost at bay and we were optimistic but decided on a second inspection the next morning.

"We were then concerned about one or two places in front of some of the hurdles and we had to make a decision. Although there was the prospect of sunshine we simply couldn't take the risk and decided to call it off."

Asked if the course would have been fit for racing at 1pm, he added ruefully: "I took great care not to take too close a look otherwise I think I would have been heading for the Avon!"

The British Horse Racing Board has granted Stratford a second additional meeting and officials at Luddington Road will be hoping for a more favourable forecast on Thursday, February 8.

"It is sad," Mr Lambert continued. "We had all six races sponsored and we are disappointed for everybody.

"Owners and trainers are desperately needing races but that's the hazard of racing in the UK. We use primarily turf tracks and it's not economically possible to provide courses with under-soil heating."

He added that three owners were planning to fly to the course on Saturday.

"We simply can't mess about," the Clerk of the Course declared. "People go to a lot of expense to get here and we inevitable get people turning up but most of them think to have a look at Teletext or Ceefax.

"One call to them saves us around 6,000 calls. They are absolutely fantastic."

It costs the Stratford management around £20,000 to stage a meeting and last weekend's casualty of the British weather was another huge blow.

"The more people turn up the more money we make, Mr Lambert revealed. "The cancellation at Christmas was a bitter blow - Saturday was a little easier to swallow but it was still so annoying."

Mr Lambert revealed that the Christmas meeting is not now budgeted for. "We are so used to it being called off!"