Newton Abbot horse deaths not linked, says BHA

The deaths of four horses at a Newton Abbot race meeting were not linked, according to a preliminary investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The four animals all suffered fatal injuries during a meeting on Tuesday 25 June.

Hallowed Rose fell and Bala Brook was pulled up in the same handicap hurdle race, while Cuzzicombe and Happy Helen were pulled up in other hurdle contests.

The seven-race card was run on ground that was officially good, good to firm in places.

A detailed investigation by the BHA’s Fatality Review Group is still ongoing.

“The BHA’s Racecourse and Facilities Manager is satisfied that there was no issue with the racing surface or any other facility at the track that caused these incidents,” the BHA said in a statement.

“This followed an inspection of conditions at Newton Abbot and a thorough assessment of the track’s racing surface maintenance records.

“While the individual equine fatality reviews are ongoing, it has been determined that each injury was sustained in unique circumstances and there appears to be no external factor linking them.”

Newton Abbot’s safety record had previously been good – between 2022 and 2023 there had been three fatalities out of 1,524 runners – around half the national average for jump racing.

The next meeting at the Devon course is on Friday.