Call for action to protect horses and riders after tragic road accident in Epsom
Tragedy struck in Epsom on Monday when a horse was fatally injured in a road traffic accident during morning work.
Five-year-old mare Gladden, who was trained by Lee Carter, was involved in a collision with a car after getting loose and attempting to gallop back to her stable.
Stephanie Aldridge, secretary at Carter's yard, said: "It's very sad. She was a lovely filly with a lovely temperament. She was owned by one of our longest-standing groups of owners and they'd been very patient with her. It's very sad for the driver as well as it must have been a shock for her."
Camilla Swift, who rides out in the town and also has a horse in training at Epsom, has called for more to be done to make the general public aware they are driving through a busy training centre.
She said: "There are definite improvements that could be made and it's a case of balancing the town and the training grounds. There's not enough signage and I think it's a case of raising awareness with the public that we're there."
Nick Patton, managing director for Jockey Club Estates, which looks after the Epsom training grounds, said: "This was a tragic accident and I'm devastated for Lee and his team. As with any incident that occurs on our training grounds we will thoroughly review it and look at how we can eliminate or reduce risk in any way we can.
"We are working with Surrey County Council to get some improved signage behind what we call the Queen's Stand crossing area."
Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news
Published on 6 January 2020inNews
Last updated 17:32, 6 January 2020
- Merci Olivier! No final winner for Olivier Peslier but the world of racing unites in saluting the end of a great career
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Merci Olivier! No final winner for Olivier Peslier but the world of racing unites in saluting the end of a great career
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement