High temperatures forced the abandonment of the race

Four of Britain’s five scheduled race meetings on Wednesday have been abandoned due to extreme heat forecast in parts of the UK.

The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for parts of England and Wales from 09:00 BST Wednesday to 21:00 Thursday, with temperatures likely to reach 38 or 39C.

The British Horseracing Authority’s hot weather policy states that where racecourses fall within a red warning zone, the fixture will be abandoned.

Additionally, horses may not be transported from or through red alert areas.

National Hunt fixtures in Worcester and flat meetings in Salisbury and Kempton are all in the affected area and just outside Ffos Las, which was also due to host a jumps card, it requires participants to travel through high-risk areas to reach the course.

Carlisle meetings are still scheduled to take place in Cumbria, with the historic Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate.

The BHA said it would continue to liaise with racecourses hosting fixtures in amber warning areas this week to consider any further measures that may be required.