Inquiry launched after two horses electrocuted at race meeting

Newbury horse racing deaths blamed on electrocution

An investigation has been launched after two horses died in the paddock at Newbury amid fears they were electrocuted by underground cabling.

Fenix Two and Marching Song were due to feature in the day's opening race but collapsed. Another horse, Kid Cassidy, was withdrawn after stumbling.

The Merry Giant was affected but took part in the race, finishing last and said to be "badly traumatised".

Seven horses made it to the start but the last six races were abandoned.

Marching Song's trainer Andy Turnell said: "He went straight down. It looks like they've been electrocuted."

Trainer Nicky Henderson was quick to pull out his runner Kid Cassidy, but the novice hurdle race went ahead, more than 20 minutes late, and with three of the original 10 runners missing. It was won by Paul Nicholls' Al Ferof.

Racegoers saw no further racing, and organisers announced later in the day that they would be fully reimbursed. The British Horseracing Authority is investigating as is the Southern Electric Power Distribution and the police.

A racecourse spokeswoman confirmed a cable, thought to be dormant, had been found under the paddock. She added: "We cannot confirm if that definitely was the reason for the incident today."

At 2200 GMT, the BBC's racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght tweeted: "Extensive 'excavations' on paddock at Newbury continuing says course & more to be revealed later."

Horses are far more sensitive to electricity than humans, and wet ground conditions could have contributed to the fatal accident.

Henderson said: "About a minute before it happened, Kid Cassidy was walking in the same corner of the paddock. I had my back turned but my daughter said 'your horse has gone down'.

"He got back up again and he went to the start. All the horses at the start had their hearts checked and he was fine, but he was desperately keen so I decided to take him out.

"Electrocution is the most obvious possibility. Nobody is to blame really, but I think you'd only really find out when they've done a post-mortem.

"The worse thing is what happened to the horses and it's all very odd."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/9395743.stm