Drama at Newmarket as window shatters on to grandstand at first meeting

Officials at Newmarket have launched an investigation after a pane of glass fell from the main grandstand and shattered on the seats below, which would ordinarily be filled with racegoers, on Thursday.

The fact racing was being staged behind closed doors on the Rowley Mile turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the area beneath the Champions Gallery was empty when the bizarre incident occurred.

"A window fell out of the Champions Gallery on the third floor on to the level two seating for no explained reason. We are investigating why and how it's occurred," said Amy Starkey, who runs Newmarket as part of her role as east regional director for the Jockey Club.

"It's concerning. Thankfully we're staging racing behind closed doors so no members of the public or our team have access to the area."

The track was staging racing for the first time since the resumption of the sport last Monday and this weekend will host the first two Classics of the season, the Investec 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas.

Click here to view the card and bet on the 2,000 Guineas

This is not the first structural mishap to take place at a racecourse. In 2012, part of the grandstand roof at Epsom was blown off due to severe weather conditions. The grandstand had been completed only three years earlier at a cost of £38 million.

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