Race declared void at Haydock due to fatally injured horse on the track

The novice hurdle at Haydock on Sunday was declared void on safety grounds as it was deemed the runners were short of room following a fatal injury to the Emma Lavelle-trained Not Normal.

The injury occured when Not Normal jumped the first flight in the eight-runner 1m7½f contest and he was still be attending to some 50 yards after the hurdle as the field entered the home straight for the second and final time.

As Richard Johnson approached what should have been the third-last flight aboard leader Keep Rolling, the yellow flag was waved by a course official to indicate a serious incident and the race was voided.

Explaining the decision, clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "In the view of the head groundsman they were tight for room and the horse was in some distress. He viewed it to be appropriate to stop the race and there was no argument from anyone about the decision."

Kirkland Tellwright: 'There was no argument from anyone about the decision'Credit: David Carr

Johnson said: "There was a horse injured and they've got to make a decision. I saw the yellow flag coming off the bend and we pulled up. It's disappointing but at the same time it's more disappointing the horse was injured on the inside, the others will have another day."

All bets were refunded following an inquiry into the incident by the stewards, who noted the head groundsman's explanation: "The positioning [of the injured horse] represented an unacceptable level of risk to continue racing past the stricken horse due to the lack of a safe racing line between the third last and second last hurdles on the final circuit."

Although Johnson and Daryl Jacob on Muratello went round the hurdle, three jockeys in behind, Kielan Woods, Tom Scudamore and Will Kennedy, jumped it before pulling up their mounts.

In the stewards' inquiry they explained no whistle had been blown to alert the riders to the hazard ahead and they had already committed to jumping the hurdle.

After declaring the race void, the stewards ordered a report to be forwarded to the head office of the BHA.

Haydock officials stated they would make a £500 ex-gratia payment to connections of all the runners in the race.

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