FOLLOWING a course inspection yesterday, parts of the seven furlong track at Gowran were found to be unfit for racing and the Kilkenny Race and the Lower Grange EBF Nursery have been omitted from tomorrow's card.

Two other aces on the card will be divided to make a seven-race programme provided sufficient declarations are received. The Turf Club also hope to reschedule the Lower Grange EBF Nursery at another venue.

Mark Of Esteem, one of the outstanding milers of recent years was yesterday retired from racing. He will stand at the Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket from the beginning of next season.

Owners Godolphin have made the decision in the wake of the 2,000 Guineas winner's disappointing showing in the Breeders' Cup Mile in Canada last Saturday.

Mark Of Esteem had proved himself to be one of the best milers for some time with an exhilarating defeat of Bosra Sham in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last month.

Hopes were high that he would end the season in a blaze of glory at Woodbine on Saturday. But he trailed in a well beaten seventh.