Newbury make plans for Friday
The jumps fixture, featuring the totesport Trophy, was called off following just one race after two horses lost their lives in the parade ring.
Fenix Two and Marching Song were about to be mounted by their jockeys on the grass on the far side of the paddock before the first race when they fell to the ground and died.
Speculation has been rife since the horrific events that the horses may have suffered from some form of electric shock.
However, officials at the Berkshire venue are confident the track is again fit for racing.
Stephen Higgins, joint-managing director of Newbury, said: “It has been a difficult week so far for all involved with Saturday’s traumatic events.
“Having received confirmation from Southern Electric Power Distribution that the paddock site is safe for both horses and people, we are confident that racing should resume.
“We have been in talks with the BHA and our sponsors the Tote and AON, with regard to rescheduling the remaining races from Saturday’s card and it is our intention for them to take place on Friday, February 18.
“Restaging the fixture is an expensive, but necessary exercise and we are very grateful to the BHA and the title sponsors, the Tote, AON, as well as the Horsemen and The Levy Board with whom we have worked closely and our racegoers who have been enormously supportive.”
The British Horseracing Authority have authorised the rescheduling pending receipt of written confirmation from Newbury Racecourse that there are no outstanding issues and the satisfactory review of the post-mortem and samples taken from the affected horses.
Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls welcomed the news, adding: “Last Saturday’s unprecedented event in the parade ring at Newbury on Saturday was very tragic and our team wishes to extend its thoughts to connections of those horses affected.
“We support 100% the decision to race on Friday at Newbury racecourse and we will be sending our runners to this fixture.”
Trevor Beaumont, chief executive of the Tote, added: “After the very unfortunate events over the weekend, our sympathies are with the connections of the horses involved.
“We have come to an agreement with Newbury Racecourse, the BHA and the Levy Board which has enabled the rescheduling of totesport Trophy day.
“It was vital that we came together to save one of the most important days in the Jump racing calendar and as the biggest sponsor of British horseracing we are more than happy to lend our support.”
The results of the post-mortem examinations into the two horses were expected to have been revealed on Monday but have since been delayed. Friday’s seven-race card will commence at 12.10pm.
