Sedgefield Racecourse still “safe” despite another equine fatality

Just three days after Sedgefield Racecourse was declared safe by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), racegoers witnessed another equine fatality at the Stockton-on-Tees course.

Imps Way, a runner in the 5pm race on Monday 16 June, was put down after sustaining an injury — but Sedgefield are quick to confirm that it was not due to a fall.

But the BHA maintain that Sedgefield is not unsafe.

A spokesman from the BHA said: “The death of Imps Way has already been reviewed by the British Horseracing Authority and connections of the horse with the racecourse.

“The video shows that the horse sustained an injury in running before it got to the fence and there has been no suggestion made to us that it was related to the course layout, condition or obstacles.”

The BHA launched a report in April following the deaths of 12 horses between March 2007 and March 2008 but on Friday (13 June) confirmed that the racecourse was not unsafe and that there were no correlations between the fatalities.

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