Racing abandoned as Worcester runs dry
RACING was abandoned in controversial circumstances after just one race at Worcester on Wednesday, with the hot weather taking its toll as the track ran short of water for the horses.
After the first, Highland Laddie collapsed due to heat exhaustion and required "600 to 800 gallons of water [2,700 to 3,600 litres]" to revive him, diminishing the supplies on course.
After a lengthy delay and an inquiry during which they consulted jockeys and trainers, the stewards elected to call off the meeting on "wholly equine grounds".
Explaining the reason for the abandonment, stipendary steward Richard Westdrop said: "Due to the excessive heat and the fact it was 85 degrees (29.4C) in the racecourse stables, the horses were arriving on the track already dehydrated before they had run in the race.
"The decision to abandon was a wholly equine welfare condition. We took expert advice from our vet Jilly Hancock and Mr Andrew Harrison, a senior veterinary official on the course."
Before the decision was taken to abandon, clerk of the course Fergus Cameron had tried to access a fire hydrant in the centre of the course to reach more urgently needed water, and raceourse staff with hosepipes were seen filling up water containers.
It was an ironic twist for the course, which has suffered from flooding over the last two summers and was unable to race.
Cameron said: "Conditions here at Worcester this afternoon have been tremendously hot. A temperature taken in the stables peaked at just under 100 degrees (37.7C) about one o'clock. Horses brought to the track were already dehydrated and trainers were struggling to keep them cool."
He added: "Worcester has been involved in summer jumping since its inception, and its facilities have been in place for anumber of years, and provided a template for other courses to follow.
"The situation did not occur before a horse went down for in excess of half an hour. We responded by giving it sufficient water to see it back up on its feet, but used between 600 and 800 gallons in what were very unusual circumstances.
"The result was that there was a delay that eventually led to the abandonment of the rest of the meeting. In light of this we will be reviewing our facilities, but I wish to stress that the decision was made in the interests of horse welfare after consultations with the two vets on duty as well as trainers and jockeys."
Trainer Nicky Henderson, who had a runner in the first and another set to run later on the card, together with jockeys including Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson, was among the professionals involved in discussions with the stewards over whether to continue with racing.
Both Henderson and McCoy agreed with the decision to abandon.
Henderson said: "It was the only sensible thing to do - I wouldn't have run my horses after they had been walking round the paddock for about three-quarters of an hour. It was in the 90s [over 32C] in the boxes on the other side of the course.
"Jump racing is completely different to Flat racing. They get dehydrated much more quickly over the jumps, they get tired. It's not the same as running in a six-furlong sprint."
McCoy said: “It was probably the right decision on the basis of the welfare of the horses.
"It’s ironic in view of how long they couldn’t race here, but when the horses were coming down from the racecourse stables it was 98 degrees over there at 1pm.”
Trainer Tim Vaughan, who had the only winner on the card with Trevian, was less understanding. He said: "It would have only taken 20 minutes to hire a pump and get water from the River Severn, which would have saved the day.
"Why they didn't have enough bowsers is unbelievable. It is just a waste of time for everyone concerned."
Joe Reid, a racegoer, said: "It feels like the Muppet Show. This is a calamity for the racecourse.
"With everyone lying around on the ground in the heat it is more like Glastonbury than Worcester racecourse."
Racing Post editorial director, Brough Scott, who was in attendance at the meeting and was at Stratford races on Tuesday evening, said: "These are exceptional circumstances and I feel very sorry for everyone concerned.
"However, most people in the south knew we were in a heatwave and anyone involved with horses knows you need an excessive amount of water.
"It always angers me how slow we are to do things in comparison to other countries. They have and always have had a magnificent watering system at Auteuil and at Stratford there were more than enough bowsers as well as scrapers.
"After this there ought to be an overall veterinary standard over horses and water."
Worcester racecourse said that racegoers will not have their tickets refunded but will instead be allowed to use them at another meeting. Cameron said he was unable to say whether there would be compensation for trainers and jockeys.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
