Haydock’s Saturday fixture, set to be broadcast on ITV, faced delays following the discovery of a hole in the track. The meeting was scheduled to feature the Temple and Sandy Lane Stakes, both key Royal Ascot trials and Group races.
Friendly Soul Incident Leads to Inspection
The Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes opened the meeting and was broadcast live on ITV Racing. Friendly Soul, trained by John and Thady Gosden, started as a hot favourite, despite being off the track since October 2024.
Under Oisin Murphy, Friendly Soul appeared to take a false step and was immediately eased by the champion jockey. Friendly Soul was pulled up but was able to walk back without requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Officials, joined by John Gosden and jockey Duran Fentiman, inspected the area where the incident occurred. They prodded the surface with a stick. It became evident that the stick went into the ground much deeper in one spot than other parts of the track.
Further shots showed a groundsman able to push his arm into the hole up to his elbow. A similar incident occurred at Cheltenham in January.
BHA stewards posted: “Delay to Race 2 at Haydock due to inspection.”
Track Deemed Unsafe After Inspection
A delegation of stewards and jockeys gathered with the clerk of the course to carry out a further examination. Following this, it was decided that the track was no longer raceable.
Clerk of the course Dan Cooper told ITV Racing that the team looked at the surface after Friendly Soul took a misstep in the first race. He suggested to the BHA stewards that it warranted a formal inspection.
Cooper stated, “We have looked at the track here and decided there is a significant drainage issue that has caused the misstep. Therefore this wouldn’t be safe to race on today was my advice to the BHA. They are going to conduct a formal inquiry now and decide what to do for the rest of the day.”
Inner Course Considered as Alternative
While a formal inquiry took place, staff began preparations to potentially use Haydock’s inner course for the remainder of the meeting. Cooper explained that an inspection of the inner track would be carried out to establish whether it would be fit for racing.
However, it would only be able to stage races over the straight, such as the Temple and Sandy Lane Stakes. Races two, five and seven scheduled to be run around bends were abandoned.
Cooper said, “The decision is to go and have a look at the inner course and give that a track inspection. On the basis of having 150 horses on it in the last two days, there is a potiential we run the straight races on that.”
Races Face Abandonment
- The meeting opened with the Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes.
- The meeting is set to feature two key Royal Ascot trials, the Temple and Sandy Lane Stakes.
- Races two, five and seven scheduled to be run around bends were abandoned.
The BHA is set to conduct a formal inquiry and decide what to do for the rest of the day.