Fakenham races ABANDONED due to unsafe track after disastrous first race left jockey in ambulance

THERE is a big delay to racing at Fakenham after a catastrophic first race… and ‘the sun being too bright’.

A tractor is currently on the course sanding the turf in an attempt to make it safe after three jockeys suffered awful falls in the first.

An inspection is ongoing at Fakenham due to reports of horses slipping in the first race. Sand is currently being spread on parts of the track and we will keep you posted with further updates. pic.twitter.com/EwKeQCo5fM
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 18, 2024

The first race was an out and out disaster with three jockeys being unseated in all

Incredibly a tractor was then out on the course trying to make it safe for racing to continue again

Jockey Harry Cobden leads the chat as riders and trainers inspect the racecourse after a nightmare first race

Jockey Ben Sutton had to go into an ambulance after he came down.

Racing TV presenter Tom Bull confirmed several jockeys were unhappy with conditions.

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A number of hurdles were omitted in the first due to the blazing sun.

Bull explained the seriousness of the situation while commenting it was basically a result of the ‘sun being too bright’.

He said: “The stewards are holding an enquiry into horses slipping on the bend in the first race.

“The tractor is sanding the track, hopefully it will make a difference but quite a few of the jockeys are unhappy with how quickly the track was riding.

“Three jockeys were unseated in the first contest and it didn’t look the safest in the world.

“Fakenham had three meetings abandoned last year due to rain and now it’s delayed due to the sun being too bright!”

A BHA stewards statement read: “There will be a further delay to racing whilst an inspection takes place to determine whether racing can continue, following reports of horses slipping in the first race.”

Jockeys Kielan Woods and Alice Stevens both fell at the first in the opening 2m hurdle for novices.

But then Sutton suffered a really nasty incident that left him in a heap when he fell from Ronnies Rules just before the third.

He lay motionless on the turf before thankfully walking off to the trackside ambulance.

Jockeys led by champion Harry Cobden – who won the disastrous first race on James Owen’s evens fav Charging Thunder – and a number of trainers walked the track to inspect it first-hand.

The second race was due off at 2.35pm – but it cannot continue unless the turf is deemed safe.

Racing TV host Jess Stafford said: “They’re having a good luck at the track, especially where there were slips in the first race.

“The sanding and inspection of the track continues.

“We’ve already had a long delay and there’s a lot to go through here.

“The team who were on track inspecting are now off so hopefully we will have an update soon.”

More to follow.