Hereford Racecourse closure leading to safety fears

Several trainers and owners from Herefordshire and Worcestershire are worried repeated use of other venues is leading to dangerous conditions.

Hereford racecourse was shut at the end of 2012 after 241 years of racing.

"We have to be very careful where we run the very best horses because of the ground," said trainer Richard Lee.

The company running the course, Arena Racing Company (ARC), closed it because they said keeping it open was no longer viable.

With owners forced to send their horses elsewhere, the workload on alternative tracks is becoming a concern.
Hereford racecourse

"The less racecourses you've got, the more the ground is going to be used, if not abused, at the others," said two-time Welsh Grand National winning trainer Lee.

"It is something we're very conscious of, it's not so bad when the ground is good but when it gets wet in the winter it gets chewed up and and gets very rough.

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