The UK's horse racing calendar has been severely disrupted this week as four fixtures are abandoned due to the extreme heatwave sweeping across southern England and Wales. Temperatures are forecast to reach a scorching 40C, prompting concerns for both human participants and their equine counterparts.
The affected meetings include Worcester’s National Hunt fixture, which had already been rescheduled to Wednesday morning in anticipation of the heat, but has now been cancelled. Flat racing events at Salisbury and Kempton, also scheduled for Wednesday, have followed suit. The jumps meeting at Ffos Las in Wales has also been abandoned despite being just outside the official red warning zone.
The decision to cancel was taken by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) following its hot weather policy. This states that any fixture located within a red warning zone must be called off, and also prohibits the transportation of horses from or through areas under red heat warnings. In a statement, the BHA confirmed the cancellations were made in conjunction with racecourses to mitigate risks to both human and equine participants.
Trainer Alex Hales has voiced his support for the decision, highlighting the importance of prioritising horse welfare in extreme conditions. He noted that existing measures to protect animals are in place, including earlier work schedules and fans in transport lorries, but stressed the need for adequate hydration with electrolytes. Hales praised the industry's sensible approach to managing severe weather.
Despite these cancellations, Carlisle’s meeting in Cumbria remains scheduled to proceed, featuring the historic Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate. The BHA will continue to work closely with affected racecourses, monitoring local forecasts and environmental conditions, before making further decisions on any additional mitigations needed.
The British Horseracing Authority has stated that it will liaise closely with each individual fixture to determine whether any further measures are required.