THE track at Uttoxeter Racecourse has been covered in plastic canvas to give this week's meeting the best chance of going ahead.

Sixteen acres – 65,000 sq metres – of grass is under white canvas which will remain down until Friday morning.

With overnight temperatures forecast to be below freezing, the horse racing fixture would be in doubt without the covers.

David MacDonald, general manager of Uttoxeter Racecourse, said: "There's always a big crowd at our pre-Christmas fixture, and we don't want to disappoint anyone."

The initiative at the Staffordshire racecourse is costing more than £10,000.

A small army of racecourse ground staff laid out the canvas yesterday when temperatures were above freezing. On Friday it will take them about four hours to remove it before racing starts at 12.05pm. The last race is scheduled for 3.30pm.