The British Horseracing Authority has suspended National Hunt racing at Southwell until further notice after two horses suffered fatal injuries at the track’s meeting on Thursday, taking the total number of horses killed while racing there since 1 July to eight.
Cillian’s Well, a 10-year-old making his 42nd start, suffered a fatal injury in a fall four out in the opening race, a two-mile handicap chase, while Day Of Roses, an 11-year-old, died after a fall at the third-last in the subsequent race, also a handicap chase.
The BHA had already launched an investigation into six fatalities at Southwell between 1 July and 24 August, and following Thursday’s meeting, the decision was taken to suspended all jumping at the course with scheduled meetings transferred to other tracks.
“The BHA and ARC [Arena Racing Company, which owns Southwell] met earlier this week and agreed a series of immediate measures which were put in place for this evening’s meeting,” Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s chief regulatory officer, said on Thursday evening.
“The course was inspected prior to racing by a BHA Course Inspector and was deemed fit to race. Pre-race checks were also carried out on all horses competing by BHA veterinary officers.
“In the sad event of two further fatalities, we have jointly decided with ARC to suspend jump racing at Southwell until further notice whilst we work together to complete a detailed investigation.”
Thirsk 1.20 Wor Willie 1.50 Alba Rose 2.20 Dream World 2.55 Diamond Haze 3.30 Archaeology 4.00 Ispahan 4.35 Our Little Pony 5.05 Mr Orange
Ascot 1.55 Pure Dreamer 2.30 George Scott 3.05 La Barrosa 3.40 Labeebb (nap) 4.15 Al Salt 4.50 Walhaan 5.20 Mokaatil 5.55 Inhalation Haydock Park 2.10 Lightly Squeeze (nb) 2.45 Zahrisa 3.20 Bielsa 3.50 Tom Tulliver 4.25 Teodolina 4.55 Tranchee 5.25 Kaser
Sedgefield 4.30 Miss M 5.00 Peterborough 5.30 Lord Springfield 6.00 Chocolat Noir 6.30 See The Sea 7.00 Oxwich Bay 7.30 Joie De Vivre
Kempton Park 5.15 Strict Tempo 5.50 Act Of Wisdom 6.20 Megallan 6.50 Hilarity 7.20 Mouriyani 7.50 Kingsholm 8.20 Villain’s Voice 8.50 Flower Of Scotland
Trainers who had already lost horses at Southwell this summer spoke to the Guardian earlier this week and highlighted the speed-favouring nature of the course as a possible factor in the spate of fatal injuries.
The BHA’s investigation will examine a number of possible reasons for the rise in fatalities, including the injury and veterinary history of the horses concerned, the number and detail of their previous starts, and “course factors such as ground and obstacles”.