Newbury races suffer major delays and remaining start times affected after massive downpour hits track

NEWBURY racing has been hit by major delays after massive downpours and thunder hit the track.

The first race of the international weekend was scheduled for 1:25 p.m.

But the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse with 5mm of rain falling in a matter of minutes.

The runners returned to the pre-parade ring around 1:40 p.m. and the first race was scheduled for 1:55 p.m.

Images shared on social media showed soaked bookmakers running for cover from their stalls as the sky turned black.

The delay will have a domino effect on the rest of the eight-race card.

And no one could guess what the ground really was like for the first, a 12-runner handicap over 6f.

A post from the racetrack on X said: “Horses are heading to the pre-parade ring with the intention of today’s race starting at 1:55 p.m.

“As a result of the delay, the races will be held at shorter intervals of 30 minutes.”

The first race eventually started at 1.57pm, 32 minutes later than scheduled, and was won 3-1 by Shameful, a horse whose pedigree suggested he would like softer ground.

Although Newbury bosses planned to make up time between races, it was not immediately clear what time the next races would take place.

Punters might want to side with horses that like a bit of juice on the ground.

Especially since the grass seemed to be rising as the horses reached the final furlong in the first race.

Winning jockey Jim Crowley spoke about the state of the ground.

He said: “It’s on the soft side of good, the track has accepted it very well.”

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for large parts of England and Wales throughout Friday.

A threat of airborne electrical activity also prompted the suspension of the BMW PGA Golf Championship at Wentworth in Surrey, about 35 miles from Newbury Racecourse.

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