'The pony race had a bigger field' - trainers speak out as field sizes tumble

Trainer Alice Haynes spoke out at the "depressing" discovery that Thursday's biggest field at Yarmouth came in a pony race as the crisis around turnouts continued to deepen.

The seven-race card, run on good to firm ground, was illustrative of the tumbling field sizes in British racing, attracting 34 declarations but with three non-runners reducing that figure to 31.

Harry's Hero finished third in a five-runner 6f novice on his first career start for Haynes at the Norfolk track and the Newmarket-based trainer said: "I think it’s depressing when the second division of the pony racing had a bigger field than any of the races there today.