Racecourse chiefs hope for better (From Worcester News)

Racecourse chiefs hope for better

7:00pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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RACING will go ahead as normal at Worcester’s Pitchcroft track on Wednesday.

Last Wednesday’s meeting was abandoned after just one race when Highland Laddie collapsed due to heat exhaustion in sweltering temperatures.

Water containers used to cool the horses could not be refilled quick enough and the decision was taken to cancel the rest of the races on the grounds of animal welfare.

Officials have since carried out an internal inquiry and will discuss their findings with the British Horseracing Authority tomorrow.

“We don’t anticipate any problems. As far as we are concerned, racing is going ahead as normal.”

Fergus Cameron

However, the seven-race card for the course’s popular Irish night, which starts at 6.10pm, is expected to get the green light and extra water barrels have been brought in to avoid a repeat scenario.

Clerk of the course Fergus Cameron said: “We carried out investigations, as requested by the BHA, and submitted our report. Following that we have a meeting with Richard Linley, the BHA senior inspector of courses.

“We don’t anticipate any problems. As far as we are concerned, racing is going ahead as normal.”

The events of July 1 saw the course come in for heavy criticism from some quarters within the sport, including trainer Tim Vaughan, who has runners on Wednesday.

Jenny Cheshire, racecourse hospitality manager, said: “It’s been tough and quite demoralising because the staff did absolutely everything they could, including ferrying water to the stricken horse. The water at the course didn’t run out, it ran out in the parade ring and it took a while to fill it up again.

“We can’t use the river water because it’s contaminated and not fit so that wasn’t an option.

“We have taken an awful lot of flack which isn’t entirely fair. Hopefully, we can move forward and have a good meeting on Wednesday.”