Racing abandoned at Sedgefield after fifth race marred by two fatalities

Racing was abandoned at Sedgefield on Thursday and the track's next meeting on November 10 has been cancelled to allow a thorough investigation of the racing surface after the fifth race was marred by two fatal injuries.

Sweet Auburn, trained by Donald McCain, stumbled and suffered an injury when turning for home in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

In a separate incident, the Ruth Jefferson-trained Thermusa, leading at the time, was injured after the second-last hurdle. The race was won by Anti Bridgie.

A group of officials, trainers and jockeys inspected the course after the race and, following a lengthy consultation, the decision was taken to abandon the meeting with two races remaining.

Clerk of the course Michael Naughton said: "It was the concerns of the trainers that there were two horses fatally injured in the same race in two different places. They just felt they didn't want to go ahead with the two horses being killed in one race.

"We've had two horses unfortunately not make it from different races before, but it's the fact of losing two in the same race that caused concern.

"There's nothing wrong with the ground, we inspected it, we have turf services treading in between every race all the way around that bend, so, they couldn't find anything untoward. They just thought with horse welfare and jockey safety they didn't want to continue."

Sedgefield: the track's next meeting on November 10 has been called offCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The track later released a statement announcing that the November 10 fixture will not take place.

The statement read: "The welfare of participants, both human and equine, is paramount and the decision was taken to abandon the remaining two races and to undertake further inspection and investigation of the track.

"The fixture scheduled for Thursday, November 10 will not take place at Sedgefield, to allow further time to undertake this process with the British Horseracing Authority."

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