Saturday's card at Chester was abandoned after four races due to safety concerns entering the final bend. Humanitarian (Noble Mission {GB}), with Luke Cotton aboard, slipped on that turn during the meet's fourth race, the ICM Stellar Sport H. An inspection with course officials and jockeys was subsequently conducted, and the meeting was called due to unsafe ground. Chester joins Haydock and Beverley as the third track that was abandoned mid-card in the UK in the past four days, with those courses cancelling on Friday and Wednesday, respectively.
Clerk of the Course Andrew Tulloch said, “It is deeply disappointing for all of us here, but the welfare of both horses and riders is paramount.
“The stewards followed the procedures in such instances, when they take a delegation of jockeys and trainers to inspect. They looked at the bend coming into the home straight, what we call the castle bend, and in the 3.45 there was a horse at the back of the field that sadly did lose his footing and that was the reason for the inspection.
“The stewards then heard from the jockeys and trainers and ourselves and their conclusion was that unfortunately we should abandon racing.
“We will go away, look at all the evidence and see if there is anything we can do to improve because none of us wants to see what has happened.
“It's really difficult, because plenty of jockeys came up to me and said it is beautiful ground, quite possibly the best ground we've raced on this season and then unfortunately you have an incident like this.”
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