Worcester facilities 'smashed to bits' by vandals

Vandals badly damaged temporary facilities at Worcester overnight on Thursday, leaving officials furious at the "mindless pondlife" responsible.

Clerk of the course Tim Long and other employees discovered on Friday morning that the temporary jockeys' changing and weighing room facility, and the marquee to cater for stable staff, which have been put up to comply with Covid-19 regulations, had been "smashed to bits" by vandals who had accessed the course overnight.

West Mercia Police have been informed of the incident. While significant damage has been done, Long is optimistic both marquees can be repaired in time for the track's next meeting on Wednesday evening.

He said: "It's just a case of getting it sorted with the people who manufacture the booths and get them erected again. It's another challenge to what we have to face, but on we go.

"We've had the larger of the marquees since the start of last season; it's essentially the weighing room as well as the jockeys' changing room, with separate booths for them to change in. They were just pulled down and smashed.

"They've also gone into the welfare marquee for stable staff and that's been thoroughly smashed to bits too.

"It's downheartening and depressing for everyone. I use the term 'people' loosely for them; what goes through somebody's mind to want to do such a thing?"

Worcester has faced significant difficulties since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, having been mothballed by owners Arc throughout 2020, and it is not the first instance of vandalism at the track.

In May 2013 there was a two-week spree of vandalism to the running rails and facilities, and in April 2016 graffiti was sprayed onto a building.

Long added: "When you think what racecourses give to a community, it's really frustrating that we have such acts. We have no idea at all who has done this vandalism, but they're looking through the CCTV in the office. You don't hold your breath with these things though."

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