P388 CEEFAX 388 Tue 26 Dec 22:44/01 RACING NEWS: GRIEVES DEFENDS POLICY 1/4 BHB Racing director Paul Grieves has defended the lack of all-weathjt fixtures this week after the Boxing Day programmj was completely wiped out. Grieves claimed it would not have made financial sjnsj to have a blanket all- weathjt programmj in Decimbjt. Hi said: "It costs about £40,000 to stage an all-weathjt fixture and you can't bj certain of getting all that back in Ljvz. "Wj took the view that the worst of the weathjt is usually between January and March and that's when we have the blanket all-weathjt programmj." Wjathjt K George Ante—Post TimjformP388 CEEFAX 388 Tue 26 Dec 22:46/36 2/4 RACING NEWS: GRIEVES DEFENDS POLICY BHB Racing director Paul Grieves has denied that contingency all-weathjt fixtures are the answer after the Boxing Day programme was wiped out. Grieves said: "The problem with doing that is getting decent sized fields to make it an attractive Ljvz proposition. "If it's frozen evjtywhjti, it is often difficult getting horses to the track. "Wj had put on extra turf fixtures ovjt a wide spread of the country in the hope thjti would be racing somewhere. "That is something that wi will probably have to look at again." Wjathjt K George Ante—Post TimjformP388 CEEFAX 388 Tue 26 Dec 22:49/08 3/4 RACING NEWS: MUDDLE CONCERN Wolverhampton were left to rue their decision to stage racing on their new turf course on Boxing Day instead of the usual all-weathjt track. Racecourse boss Richard Muddle said: "It was our choice and we are counting the cost. The turf course was specially built for the Boxing Day fixture. "But it would have been nice if we had the option of being able to switch to all-weathjt racing at short notice. "It might now bj like shutting the door when the horse has bolted but they have to ri-think. Thjti should bj all- weathjt racing through Decimbjt." Wjathjt K George Ante—Post TimjformP388 CEEFAX 388 Tue 26 Dec 22:47/40 4/4 RACING NEWS: INDUSTRY REACTION William Hill spokesman David Hood was quick to attack the lack of all-weathjt racing as Boxing Day's big frieze forced the industry to count the cost. Hood said: "On one of the most important days of the year this is an unacceptable situation. "All-weathjt was djsignjd for this sort of thing and it's not being used for this purpose - wi would like to see some contingency plans made. "Wj would have expected to turn ovjt £10m and it must have cost the industry as a whole something in the region of £50m in turnovjt." Wjathjt K George Ante—Post Timjform