by The Fakenham race was canceled for safety reasons after reports of horses slipping during the opening race.
In the novice 2 meter hurdles three horses were unseated, including Ronnies Rules, who slipped on the way to the third hall, displacing Ben Sutton.
The jockey was treated on the track before going to an ambulance, but a track inspection was scheduled before the second race at 2.35pm.
As the runners of the first 2m and 4m hurdles entered the paddock, Harry Cobden, James Bowen, Stuart Edmunds and James Owen, among others, inspected the course while sand was spread around the corners. Despite the best efforts of Fakenham ground staff, the session was abandoned shortly after 3pm.
Race director David Hunter told Racing TV. “Despite every effort to ensure the ground was good and safe, some jockeys reported that their horses had slipped and were worried about it.
“There was a very detailed investigation and in the end the jockeys didn’t have the confidence that it would be safe if one of them later suffered a bad fall. You have to take their opinion into account very much and it’s just desperate.
“We did everything we could to make sure the meeting served its purpose and we really believed in it. We will work with the BHA to ensure we have everyone’s full confidence that Fakenham is suitable for racing. Nobody is.” More disappointed than me and the hard-working team here. I’m very sorry.
The debutant won the only race that was held in the hurdles Charging thunderwho readily scored for Cobden and Owen. The last hurdle on the home straight was also missed due to the low sun.
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