'What a terrible way to treat small owners' - plea to improve pre-race safety

Cartmel trainer Jimmy Moffatt has called for a farrier to be at the start of every race after Native Fighter ran in a £20,000 hurdle at Perth with only three shoes and developed an abscess in a hoof as a result.

Owner Dave Simpson was moved to write to BHA chief executive Julie Harrington as he was so upset at the incident, having travelled from Lytham St Annes to see his five-time hurdle winner, ridden by Charlotte Jones, who lost a front shoe on the way to the start.

BHA general instructions only require a farrier to be at the start if the meeting includes a Pattern or Listed race or, wherever possible, a terrestrially televised race.

After losing a shoe, Native Fighter was checked over by the vet and Jones was asked if she was happy to run before he was allowed to take his chance.

But the 4-1 third favourite trailed home in fifth and Simpson said: "Had this been the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle or some other race with top-class horses in then the horse would have been re-shod.

"So in essence, what the rules say is we’re not that interested in the welfare of 0-110 rated hurdlers or novice chasers, only the top five per cent matter."

Citing his own expense, Simpson added: "We have a handful of horses in training and although I'm in a wheelchair, we delight in getting to the courses to watch our horses run. It cost around £600 for a three-day trip all the way to Perth and your option was to withdraw our horse, what a terrible way to treat smaller owners who are the lifeblood of the sport.

"Then, how about the safety and care of our horses? The horse had a really bad abscess on his front hoof which was treated by the vet at even more expense, not forgetting the pain and discomfort he experienced.

"It would seem that the racecourses don't want the expense of having a farrier at the start of each race. I see a very simple solution to that. It's to add, say, £5 to all entry fees and use that for the safety and welfare of our horses."

Moffatt added that the incident also had implications for the betting public, who did not get a proper run for their money.

"Native Fighter was a 4-1 shot, but I wouldn't have wanted to back him if he only had three shoes," the trainer said.

Jimmy Moffatt: 'I wouldn't have wanted to back him if he only had three shoes'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I had the choice to declare him with the option to 'withdraw if he spreads a plate', but I didn't want to do that as I mistakenly assumed there would be a farrier at the start.

"In days gone by that was a regular occurrence, as a safeguard to horse and rider, and I think a solution would be for courses to prioritise that. This is not something that happens very often, but it is frustrating when it does occur and I'd like to see a farrier at the start as a matter of course."

In response, Perth racing manager and clerk of the course Matthew Taylor said: "We currently have one farrier on the racecourse located in the stables, which we determine as the best position to deal with potential problems as that is where horses spend most of their time on site.

"As well as there being a significant cost implication to having a second farrier, there is also an availability problem making this very challenging for a small racecourse to achieve for all racedays.

"We are reviewing our deployment of our single farrier and exploring the feasibility of this farrier attending the start of races, at least those over a certain value, in the future. We appreciate the support of all owners sending horses long distances up to Perth and very much regret the disappointment experienced by all the connections of Native Fighter, whom we trust has since recovered from this unfortunate incident."

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