TODAY’S scheduled horse racing card at Cork has been called off due to the track being frozen.
An inspection at 7.30am deemed the surface unfit for racing as the south of the country in particular braces for a snowy few days.
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Breaking the news, a spokesperson for the course stated: “Following another night of frost unfortunately the track at Cork is unfit for racing following our inspection this morning due to parts of the track being frozen.”
There is still some semblance of hope that Sunday’s racecard at Naas will go ahead – however, that ground will similarly face an early morning inspection tomorrow.
The point to point meets in Tinahely, Wicklow as well as Ballindenisk, Cork will also have to pass inspections at 8am.
Across the Irish Sea racing has been written off almost completely as Britain is hit by even more extreme conditions.
Sandown and Wincanton waved the white flag on Friday after completing their own checks.
Back at home, GAA chiefs are on red alert as the overnight freezing temperatures could put the All-Ireland club football semi-finals in jeopardy.
A status yellow snow and ice warning for Leinster, Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford is in place from 5pm this evening for 24 hours.
Breffni Park in Cavan is due to host tomorrow’s All-Ireland club SFC semi-final between Dublin winners Cuala and Connacht champs Coolera-Strandhill at 1.30pm.
Munster champions Dr. Crokes are down to face Tyrone Kingpins Errigal Ciarán in the other semi-final at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise at 3.30pm.
Snowfall is expected in those counties overnight tonight, leading to hazardous driving conditions as Met Eireann are predicting temperatures to plummet even further early next week.
Punters planning to travel to any fixtures this weekend are urged to regularly check for updates on the status of the games and to refrain from taking journeys in poor conditions.
A GAA statement issued yesterday said: “Due to the current weather forecast, the GAA will monitor the pitches over the weekend, any changes will be notified as soon as possible.”
SunSport understands Croke Park is on standby to host games if travel conditions are deemed too treacherous for travelling supporters or pitches are deemed unplayable.
The All-Ireland intermediate club semi-finals are down for decision today, and Ballinderry’s clash with Kerry giants Austin Stacks has already been moved from Tullamore to Parnell Park in Dublin with a new 2pm start.
Longford’s Pearse Park is still hosting Crossmolina’s showdown with Caragh of Kildare at 1pm in the other semi.
The junior semis are penned in for tomorrow when Tara tackle Muff of Donegal in London at 12 noon and Carraroe of Galway face Leinster and Offaly champs Ballinagar at Dr. Hyde Park at 1.
Despite the weather, calendar constraints will put Croke Park chiefs under huge pressure to fulfill all fixtures and avoid a possible overlap with the start of the NFL competitions on January 25.
The GAA came under huge fire when the All-Ireland club SFC semi-finals were played in atrocious conditions a year ago, as Glen overcame Kilmacud Crokes in dense fog in Newry when play was barely visible.
St. Brigid’s of Roscommon overcame Cork giants Castlehaven in the other semi in Thurles, when half of the pitch was frozen.