The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today confirmed that the two Steeple Chases scheduled to take place at Exeter’s fixture on Tuesday 21 October have been abandoned and will be replaced by two additional Hurdle races.

The Steeple Chases have been abandoned in agreement with the BHA Course Inspectorate to allow Exeter the opportunity to concentrate their watering efforts on the Hurdle course to give the fixture the best possible chance of going ahead.

The two new races will create a seven-race card and entries will close at noon tomorrow, Wednesday 15 October.

Jason Loosemore, Clerk of the Course at Exeter, said: 

“The ground here is currently Good to Firm, Firm in places and, looking at the forecast over the next few days, we and the BHA Inspectorate agree that the best course of action is to focus our resources on preparing the Hurdle course.

“We are due to get somewhere between 10mm and 30mm of rain before next Tuesday’s fixture and if the upper end of the forecast materialises then we would be optimistic that we can stage an all-Hurdle card.

“While it is disappointing that two races over fences will be lost as a result, we all felt this was the best way forward to give racing the best chance of taking place at Exeter next week.”