Ascot adopts padded hurdles in a bid to boost equine welfare

Ascot is to become the most high-profile racecourse to install One-Fit padded hurdles, with the new flights set to make their debut at the track's first jumps meeting of the campaign on November 3.

Officials said the hurdles, which have padding on all the wooden parts and a foam pad across the front, were a positive for equine welfare. They will cost around £30,000 to bring in.

Padded hurdles were first introduced at Newton Abbot in 2013 and have since been taken up by Bangor, Cartmel, Exeter, Kelso, Ludlow, Stratford and Uttoxeter.