Ayr gets go-ahead after pile-up

Fanning broke his collar bone after his horse fell at Ayr

Ayr Racecourse has been cleared to hold its next scheduled meeting on 20 July.

Racing had to be abandoned on Monday as seven horses were involved in a horrific pile-up, leaving jockey Joe Fanning with a broken collar bone.

Balwearie, the first horse to slip on the home turn, broke his jaw but the others all escaped injury.

There was doubt over the Fair Monday meeting but following a visit from the British Horse Racing Authority Course Inspector, racing will go ahead.

In the third race of the day, Balwearie's tumble caused all sorts of trouble for those behind, with All In The Red, Talk Of Saafend, Hawkit, Norrthside Prince and Whipma Whopma Gate hitting the ground, while Neon Blue slipped up separately.

A deputation of stewards, officials, trainers and jockeys were despatched to the offending area and a lengthy inquiry went ahead on their return to the weighing-room before the meeting was officially abandoned.

Stipendiary steward Adie Smith explained: "We had to make sure that we spoke to everyone concerned in the matter, including course executives, the clerk of the course and the head groundsman,

"The jockeys and the trainers felt it was unsafe to continue - they were asked if they thought it was safe to complete the races on the straight course but felt that it would still be unsafe and the stewards decided that the meeting would be abandoned in the interests of safety to horse and rider."

Clerk of the course Katherine Self, who leaves her post after the next meeting, said: "We feel that we did everything in our power to ensure safe, good to firm ground, that is my responsibility.

"We watered on Thursday and Friday ahead of heavy rain being forecast for Saturday morning when we got 7mm - we also shallow slitted the bend to give it some grip which we do before every meeting and the jockeys agreed that we do it.

"We had about 2.5mm in total in two showers between 10am and 12.30 pm and we did put on 4mm on the pull up area (where Jigajig slipped and unseated his rider after passing the post in sixth in the 2.30).

"We are very disappointed and were very concerned for the jockeys and horses and are very sorry for Joe Fanning."