Newbury rescheduling plans expected today
Plans for the rescheduling of the meeting at Newbury abandoned in extraordinary circumstances on Saturday are expected to be announced today.
Fenix Two and Marching Song were about to be mounted by their jockeys on the grass on the far side of the parade ring prior to the first race when they fell to the ground and died, while Kid Cassidy and The Merry Giant were also affected.
Speculation from the connections of the stricken horses was that they may have suffered from some form of electric shock.
On Sunday, electricity board officials revealed a section of cable had been removed from the course for further examination.
Stuart Hogarth, operations director for Southern Electric Power Distribution, said: “A section of electricity cable has been removed from the paddock area for further detailed inspection.
“Our initial on-site investigations confirm there was no danger to the public.”
Stephen Higgins, joint managing director of Newbury racecourse, said: “We will wait for further information to be provided to us by Southern Electric Power Distribution who we are in daily contact with.
“We have been reassured that the site is safe and we hope that the final results of this investigation will be established as soon as possible.”
Talks were on-going about whether the card, which was due to feature several important trials for next month’s Cheltenham Festival, could be saved.
Speaking on his Twitter page, British Horseracing Authority head of communications Paul Struthers said no announcement on post-mortem results or rescheduling of the meeting would be made until today.
Rumours of horses suffering burn marks were rife on course, but Struthers added: “Just to be clear reNewburyRaces not one vet, trainer or jockey mentioned anything about burn marks in, b4 or after official enquiry.”
Earlier, BHA chief executive Nic Coward had told BBC Radio Five Live: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts have to be with the connections.
“It is premature to describe in detail what happened because that would be speculation, but fingers are being pointed at some kind of electrical fault. Post-mortems are also being carried out.”
Kid Cassidy’s trainer Nicky Henderson believes his horse was “extremely lucky” to have escaped death in the incident.
“It was something that none of us have ever seen before and we hope never to see again,” Henderson said.
“Kid Cassidy was just walking round and went over on to the grass and knuckled over for a second.
“It does appear it was to do with electricity and underground cables and obviously nobody knew it was there.
“It was one of the most traumatic five minutes I think one can ever go through.”
Trainer Rebecca Curtis was pleased to report The Merry Giant physically none the worse, although she is concerned about the potential mental damage her charge may have suffered.
She said: “The concern would be when he goes back to the races and into the parade ring, he might remember what happened and never be the same again.”
