Worcester forced to abandon

Wednesday's fixture at Worcester had to be abandoned in the interests of "equine welfare", according to track officials.A shortage of on-course water for the horses was attributed to the National Hunt fixture having been called off after just one race. The track ran out of water for the horses after the opening Winterfold House Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.The baking-hot weather took its toll as one of the runners, Highland Laddie, collapsed due to heat exhaustion. The meeting was put on hold while the track refilled its water holders. But, following a meeting between the stewards and veterinary officials, the fixture had to be abandoned.Stipendiary steward Richard Westropp said: "Due to the excessive heat, and the fact that it was 85 degrees inside the racecourse stables, the horses were arriving on the track already dehydrated before they had run a race. The decision to abandon was a wholly equine welfare concern."Ironically, Worcester has had major issues with flooding in recent years due to the River Severn bursting its banks. That led to the racecourse being closed for 10 months, with racing only resuming in May. Clerk of the course Fergus Cameron has promised a full review - but stressed the correct decision had been made to abandon.He said: "We will obviously be making what changes are appropriate to bring some improvements. Today was not good. But the facilities we have, until today, proved to be more than adequate for what was needed. We had exceptional circumstances and our facilities were tested to their limit."The right decision has been made, but it's been hugely frustrating for everyone involved. Our facilities have, up until today, been more than adequate to deal with any situation in the last eight years. Anyone who paid to come racing will be able to come back for another meeting of their choice this year."In a statement issued by the British Horseracing Authority, Professor Tim Morris, director of Equine Science and Welfare, said: "We are fully aware of the effects of heat on horses, both at rest and when performing, for racehorses and in other equine disciplines."The Authority's veterinary officers have been well briefed as to how to cope with situations of high temperature and today's successful use of water on the distressed horse was a result of our preparations to ensure that horses received as much water as possible. "The time taken for the distressed horse to be treated for dehydration, and the amount of water used, was exceptional. The delay this caused, coupled with the exceptionally high temperatures, meant the horses due to run in the following race were already becoming dehydrated. The abandonment was the right course of action."