BHA backs trial of new fence colours to cut fallers
A move to change the colour on the take-off side of hurdles and fences that was exclusively revealed by The Daily Telegraph in February has finally taken a step closer to being put into practice, the British Horseracing Authority reported yesterday.
In 2017, the BHA and Racing Foundation commissioned, and provided funding for, the University of Exeter to conduct research into equine vision and how horses perceive colour.
The research was undertaken by Dr Sarah Paul and Prof Martin Stevens with the aim of improving obstacle visibility, therefore enhancing the welfare and safety of horses and jockeys through reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
The colour used on hurdle frames and fence take-off boards and guardrails is orange. However, horses have reduced colour vision compared to humans, and differentiate objects only in a palette of blues and yellows.
Recommendation has been approved by the Racecourse Committee for a phased trial to be carried out using fluorescent yellow for all hurdles and guardrails, and fluorescent white for take-off boards at fences. These colours have been determined to maximise visibility for humans and horses. There will be an extensive trial at training grounds before it is rolled out to racecourses.
At the same time, the BHA and RSPCA are continuing to work together on a project to see if any further improvements can be made to the construction of hurdles, alongside the different use of colour.
David Sykes, director of equine health and welfare for the BHA, said: “As with the ongoing phased introduction of our padded hurdles – which have been proved to reduce faller and injury rates – we will take our time with this project to make sure there are no unintended consequences.
“If that proves to be the case then we will look forward to seeing the new designs of hurdles and fences on racecourses, and hopefully further reducing our already declining faller rate.”
A full brother to Too Darn Hot, the 10-11 favourite for Saturday’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, was sold for 3½ million guineas at Tattersalls Sales yesterday. David Redvers signed for the colt, who became the most expensive yearling to come under the hammer in the world this year, beating the 3.4million gns paid for a Galileo colt the previous day.