Inspector gadget: camera on a pole sighted near track at Leicester

Suspicions of in-running punters seeking to use technology in an attempt to gain an edge during racing arose again at Leicester's jumps meeting on Wednesday when a tall pole which appeared to have a camera attached to it was seen in the garden of a property close to the East Midlands venue.

Fears grew at Leicester last year that some punters were attempting to get ahead of their counterparts by using drones in a bid to receive pictures that were seconds ahead of conventional TV feeds, giving them an advantage.

One was spotted at Leicester 12 months ago, throwing the matter into focus and also leading to jockey Tom Scudamore saying the drones could threaten the safety of anyone arriving at the races by helicopter.

Results and replays from Leicester on Wednesday

A drone was also seen at the course the following month and Wednesday's fixture may have witnessed a similar problem with a pole, estimated to be at least 20 feet high, being clearly seen in a garden close to the turn into the back straight.

It appeared to have a camera on it and was taken down five minutes after the last race at 4.15.

Leicester's clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson said: "I haven't seen this pole in about a year and when we went round last time they told us to 'eff off'.

"There's not a lot you can do but I have heard this pole or similar has appeared at Southwell recently."

Haydock is another track where drones have been spotted, while there have been other reported sightings at Nottingham, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Newbury and Wolverhampton, although in-running players were warned they faced police action if flying the devices in their battle to outsmart rivals at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

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