Today's meeting at Gowran Park has been postponed due to thunder and lightning at the Kilkenny course.
Heavy rain and lightning had earlier delayed the start of the first by half-an-hour but with conditions not improving the decision was made to abandon the card.
Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin says they had little choice in the interest of safety to jockeys and the public.
"We just don't take chances with life and limb. There was a safety issue with lightning, and the whole thing was to do with lightning.
"It looked like it was set to clear, so that's why we sent them out for the first. We consulted with the riders and they all appeared happy we were going to proceed without stalls. There was a consideration for that, but there was so much of the lightning.
"We considered Gowran Park has a beautiful parade ring with all the things you shouldn't have for lightning - trees. The lads leading the horses, there is concern for them as well.
"As a horse man, I wouldn't ask anyone to do something I wouldn't do myself.
"The camera crew were reluctant to go up on the hoist, so we could have a had a tape start but no pictures. It was just not conducive to any racing and the decision was made totally in the interests of safety."
Due to the weather conditions @GowranPark1 has been abandoned pic.twitter.com/Qe0KNj5UN5
— IHRB (@ihrb_ie) September 21, 2019
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