Arena may face punishment

Lingfield's owners Arena Leisure face the possibility of a penalty being imposed upon them after the last-minute abandonment of today's meeting.  

A report compiled by the stewards' secretary will be sent to the Jockey Club where a decision will be taken as to whether further action is necessary.

Tempers were running high at the course this afternoon when the meeting was called off after jockeys arriving for the start of the first race complained the racing surface was unsafe.

Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said: "With any abandonment a report is sent to Portman Square by the stewards' secretary, who will compile an account of his views and his assessment of the situation.

"The Jockey Club will then consider the report and see whether the circumstances require further investigation and has the option of calling a hearing.

"They will look at the circumstances behind the abandonment and whether everybody has been kept informed of the situation.

"All-weather tracks are faced with staging racing at a time of year when conditions are tough to predict - we will have to look at the report and see whether that was the case here or not."