Heatwave forces two races at Southwell to be abandoned
Last couple of hurdles pulled despite early start Enable to take on full field in the King George
Southwell, which brought its jump card forward to an 11.25am start yesterday in a bid to combat the heatwave, abandoned its last two races after temperatures rose even more quickly than anticipated.
There had been no incidents of horses overheating earlier in the day, with extra racecourse staff brought in from Worcester to help cool down the runners post-race, tents erected to give shade as well as the provision of ice and fans.
But with temperatures higher than expected, the last two races, handicap hurdles over two-and-ahalf miles and three miles, were called off. The decision appeared to get universal approval from the trainers and jockeys who had hoped to contest them.
Richard Johnson, who extended his lead in the jockeys’ title with a treble, described it as the right decision and suggested that in future they consider starting even earlier, at 10.30 if necessary, when they know it is going to become so hot.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said. “It was taking longer to get your breath back after riding because you were breathing hot air. But I think everyone would be happier to start earlier if it gets all the racing on.”
The British Horseracing Authority said: “The combination of the distance of the final two races and the continual rise of the temperatures on course meant there was agreement that it was not safe to continue.” Other courses, they added, were being monitored.
Charlie Moore, clerk of the course, said: “We’ve gone up a degree a race and we’re now 3C higher than we thought we’d be, which was 32C, and we hoped to have finished racing by the time it reached that temperature.
“It’s all about where the temperature got to and being sensible. You can’t beat nature.”
It is not the first time a jump race has been abandoned because of the heat. A mares’ chase at Cheltenham last April was called off when a spring heatwave produced temperatures of 79F (26C). At that time of year horses have more wintry coats and are more vulnerable to higher temperatures.
Enable will face 10 rivals in tomorrow’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, after they all stood their ground at the 48-hour stage, while Circus Maximus, the St James’s Palace winner, was added to the field for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next week.