Evening horse race has to be scrapped at last minute for embarrassing reason

08 February 2024 , 13:34

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Newcastle racecourse: only the straight is covered by floodlights (Image: Newcastle Journal)

Red-faced racing officials have been forced to scrap a race because it will be too dark to run.

The 5.05 race at Newcastle on Thursday was due to be stage on the track’s round course over 1m2f. But it was spotted that the race was timed to go off after sunset at the track where only the straight has floodlights.

Just over five hours before it was due to go ahead, with some of the runners already en route to Newcastle, the BHA and the track’s owner Arena Racing Company announced the race had been called off. It has been added to the track’s card on Saturday instead.

A BHA statement explained: “This move has been agreed after it was identified this morning that the race, which is scheduled to take place over 1m2f42y on the round course, was due to go off after sunset. Only the straight course at Newcastle is covered by floodlights, meaning that it would not be safe to stage the race as planned due to low light.”

Under BHA instructions state that a race time cannot be altered so that a race is run earlier than the advertised race time under any circumstances. This is due to potential implications for betting markets as well as regulatory, safety and logistical reasons.

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Newcastle racecourse, as seen in the daylight (PA)

The BHA said connections of the ten runners had been contacted and an apology made as well as offered a reimbursement payment for costs already incurred.

Thursday's meeting will now start ten minutes later than scheduled at 4.40pm to reduce the gap to the next race to 5.35pm.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience and confusion resulting from this error.” the regulator said. “We will now take steps to identify what caused this issue to ensure it is not repeated.”

Jon Lees