THERE will be no mile races at York this week, a late change to the programme for the opening meeting of the season on Knavesmire.

Heavy rain last weekend has made the ground soft and so the starting positions for three races at the May Festival, which starts tomorrow, have been changed.

They were originally scheduled to be run over a mile using the round course, but they have been switched to the shorter distance of seven furlongs using the straight course and appropriate spur.

The first affected race is on Thursday, the Hambleton Stakes. The other two races are being run as the fourth and sixth races on Friday, the Michael Seely Memorial Fillies Stakes and the GWP Architects Handicap.

Clerk of the course William Derby said: "The cloudbursts over the weekend coming on top of a wet spring have left us with some patches of ground towards the middle of the track, just after the mile start, that are unsuitable so we've made the decision to switch the distances.

"We've spoken to a lot of the trainers involved and explained the situation. The majority of them are content to run over the shorter trip, although I appreciate that it won't suit everyone."

Those with horses entered for the other races over the round course, including tomorrow's Musidora Stakes and Thursday's Dante Stakes, are being told that the wet patches should not affect their races.

"The racing line itself is unaffected and by the time the horses running in the longer races reach the mile post they will have sorted themselves out and be well away from the areas of concern," Derby added.

As for next month's Royal Ascot at York meeting, Derby said that they will be working with the racecourse turf consultants and course inspectors to ensure that the track is in top condition.

There are seven races of a mile at the five-day Royal meeting, five on the opening two days.

Updated: 11:10 Tuesday, May 10, 2005