Jumping to resume at Southwell after investigation into fatalities concludes

Jump racing will return to Southwell next Friday after the BHA concluded an investigation into a spate of deaths at the course and set out a number of recommendations designed to prevent future fatalities.

Eight horses died at the course in August and September, including Cheltenham Festival winner Croco Bay, leading to the BHA and Southwell’s owner Arena Racing Company (Arc) to suspend racing over jumps while they looked into potential causes.

Analysis of the races run at the track between July 1 and September 3, when racing was halted, alongside inspections of the surface ended with four recommendations focusing on the structure and positions of the fences, the volume of fixtures and the race programme for the same period at the course in 2021.

While the surface and the hurdles course were not identified as problematic, the chase course came under greater scrutiny, particularly with regard to the final fence in the back straight and the first in the home straight.

Croco Bay: former Cheltenhan Festival winner was fatally injured at SouthwellCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

In the summary to its report, the BHA said: “In relation to the chase course, the majority of incidents occurred at fences either side of the bottom bend of the track, with specific measures suggested to address these.

“Feedback from stakeholders was that some modifications to all of the fences, above and beyond those recently undertaken at the track would be of assistance to both horse and rider.”

The report recommends modification of all fences by cutting a small section from the back of the obstacles to make the top more pronounced and encourage horses to make a better shape when jumping, alongside the repositioning of the first fence in the home straight to move it as far from the bottom bend “as is feasible”.

The number of races run at Southwell between July and September next year, and the make up of the races run, will also be assessed before publication of the programme book.

Brant Dunshea, BHA chief regulatory officer, said: “The BHA and Arc have worked together to comprehensively review the incidents at Southwell between July and early September, while racing was temporarily suspended at the course as a precaution.

“The safety of our participants is the top priority for everyone involved in British racing and the sport is constantly taking steps to assess potential risk factors and make improvements where necessary. This process of ongoing review, assessment and improvement has resulted in the fatality, injury and faller rates in jump racing reducing by around one third in the last 20 years.”

Brant Dunshea: 'The safety of our participants is the top priority for everyone'

Jon Pullin, Arc racing director, added: “We are extremely grateful to BHA and all of those who have assisted in this review. The recommendations that it has made have been fully implemented ahead of the resumption of jump racing at the racecourse on November 13.”

A trial schooling morning took place at Southwell on Wednesday as part of the course’s preparation for the return of jump racing, with trainer Charlie Longsdon among those to have horses take part.

He said: “The changes that have been made to the fences are a positive step and based on the schooling morning we were very happy with how the horses were jumping them.

"The jockeys who rode over them were happy too and we’re looking forward to having runners at Southwell at the next fixture.”

Read more if you were interested in this . . .

BHA to investigate spate of deaths at Southwell since jump racing resumption

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