Kempton off to rocky start
All-weather racing at Kempton got off to a rocky start after stones on the track caused a huge delay to their opening meeting.
The action was due to get underway at 2.30pm but stones were found on the racing line prompting officials to inspect the Polytrack surface before allowing racing to go ahead.
Around 10 stones were collected from the course so a deputation of jockeys, trainers and officials took a thorough look at the track causing a 25-minute delay.
Clerk of the course Brian Clifford was at a loss to explain how the stones came to be on the track.
He said: “We manage the track everyday and sweep and harrow it for foreign bodies and we are fully conscious of the safety issues for horses and jockeys.
“I worry that someone has physically put the stones on to the track as there are stones on the infield and they are quite light and easy to carry.
“The Jockey Club Inspectorate approved the track at 11am and I wonder how they got on there since then.
“I’m just speculating but I have no idea how they got on there.
“There is tarmac eight inches deep but the stones that were found are nothing like those underneath.
“They may have come from elsewhere and very speculatively, it may be attempted sabotage.
“They may have been thrown on but our tractors could not have brought them on.
“When we are harrowing during the afternoon, we will be screening the situation but when Steve Drowne and I walked it, we found only one stone.”
Julian Thick, Kempton’s managing director, added: “We are totally satisfied that the stones found on the racecourse were not actually part of the track construction make-up.
“The stones will be analysed to see if it helps us to find the source. In the meantime, safety and the welfare of both horse and rider will continue to be our priority.”
When racing eventually got underway, it was Clive Brittain’s Akona Matata (5-1) who made the inaugural trip to the winner’s enclosure after the Jyske Bank Private Banking Copenhagen Maiden Stakes.
Jimmy Fortune steered the colt to a length-and-three-quarters success over Scot Love and the rider was largely impressed by the new track.
He said: “The track is a bit slow at the moment and it will probably take a few months to settle in. A lot of these all-weather tracks take some time.
“It’s probably slower than Lingfield at the moment but it’s a nice surface and not dissimilar to Lingfield.”
Brittain was supervising his runner in Dubai but travelling head lad Des Reape added: “I walked the track and thought it was good – I didn’t see any stones but I didn’t go right down the back.
“All the changes are for the better and it’s very positive.”
Patrick Chamings thought the track could be riding on the slow side after his Binanti (12-1) took the jbpb.com Handicap under George Baker.
He said: “All of the Polytracks are wonderful and I am a great fan of it.”
Baker added: “It’s a lovely surface – it’s a bit slow at the moment. The bends ride perfect and Kempton’s done a great job with it.”
Dane O’Neill showed you can ride a waiting race on the new surface when he produced the Brian Ellison-trained Swiper Hill (5-1) to land the Jyske Bank Private Banking Copenhagen Maiden Stakes.
The jockey said: “It rides quite well and while you wouldn’t want to come from too far back, my fellow was always travelling very well.
“I thought that it rode a little bit on the slow side and it will have to weather a bit.”
