Meeting called off after course runs out of water

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 22:53

RACING at Worcester was abandoned yesterday after the track ran out of water to give to dehydrated horses as temperatures soared.

The National Hunt meeting was called off after just one race in the interests of "equine welfare", according to track officials. The track ran out of water for the horses after the opening Winterfold House Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

The baking-hot weather took its toll as one of the runners, Highland Laddie, collapsed due to heat exhaustion.

The meeting was put on hold while the track refilled its water holders.

But, following a meeting between the stewards and veterinary officials, the fixture had to be abandoned.

Stipendiary steward Richard Westropp said: "Due to the excessive heat, and the fact that it was 85 degrees inside the racecourse stables, the horses were arriving on the track already dehydrated before they had run a race.

"The decision to abandon was a wholly equine welfare concern."

Ironically, Worcester has had major issues with flooding in recent years due to the River Severn bursting its banks.

That led to the racecourse being closed for ten months, with racing only resuming in May.

Clerk of the course Fergus Cameron has promised a full review – but stressed the correct decision had been made to abandon the meeting.

He said: "We will obviously be making what changes are appropriate to bring some improvements.

"Today was not good. But the facilities we have, until today, proved to be more than adequate for what was needed.

"We had exceptional circumstances and our facilities were tested to their limit.

"The right decision has been made, but it's been hugely frustrating for everyone involved.

"Our facilities have, up until today, been more than adequate to deal with any situation in the last eight years.

"We are going to review the whole of our procedures to see what can be done to enhance that. The decision has been taken by the executive that anyone who paid to come racing will be able to come back for another meeting of their choice this year."