TAUNTON Racecourse's opening meeting of the new season, due to be held on Wednesday, October 31, has been called off.

This is due to the "exceptionally dry summer" affecting the ground.

The full statement from the Racecourse reads as follows: "Following an exceptionally dry extended summer the racing scheduled for October 31 has been abandoned due to hard ground on parts of the course.

"The course has been vertidrained and irrigated as much as resources allow, but only 49mm of rain has fallen on the course since September 24, with 35mm of that on the weekend of October 13-14.

"There has been no measurable rainfall here since October 16."

The statement adds that tickets purchased online in advance will be automatically refunded.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 15.