Horseracing: Drugs arrest at Newmarket

Officials at Newmarket racecourse this evening confirmed that an arrest for a drugs offence was made at the track today.

The news follows reports of drug-taking and dealing on course during the recent Guineas meeting.

Plain-clothes police officers were drafted in today to help monitor the situation and an arrest was made of a 24-year-old man from Leicester, who is being held at Newmarket police station on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance, believed to be cocaine.

The Newmarket Racecourse Trust and the Suffolk Constabulary issued a joint- statement, providing details of the alleged offence.

"At about 4pm today a member of the Newmarket Racecourses Trust staff saw four men acting suspiciously in the toilets adjacent to the Paddock Bar.

"Police officers were called and following a search one man was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance, believed to be cocaine.

"Completely seperately and earlier in the day at approximately 2.30pm, a member of staff handed to the police two capsules that were found in the toilets of the Grandstand.

"These have been field tested and the initial results indicate that they are a controlled substance, probably amphetamine.

"Following the allegations of drug abuse during the Guineas Festival all staff and police officers on duty today have heightened their vigilance to the possibility of drug abuse.

"Drug-taking will not be tolerated. Suffolk Constabulary and Newmarket Racecourses Trust will continue to work together to prevent drugs being brought on to the racecourse.

"We would ask the public to support us in this and report any suspicious activity at future meetings to police officers who are on duty at every meeting.

The additional police presence was requested by track officials in response to the reports of illegal activity at the last meeting.

Newmarket’s racecourse manager, Lisa Hancock, said this evening: "This is the first confirmed incident ever of drug possession at the course.

"A total of 12,000 racegoers came to Newmarket today and there was one arrest for suspected possession of a small quantity of drugs - we must keep things in perspective.

"Sadly drugs are part of society but we will do everything we can to continue the policy of zero tolerance on the racecourse."