Racing: Grounds for dispute at Brighton

THE SHABBIEST rule in racing, whereby racegoers have no entitlement to a refund of their admission fee if one race has taken place, was enforced at Brighton yesterday, writes John Cobb. Unsurprisingly, the crowd besieged the weighing room asking for their money back, but were instead offered vouchers for the next meeting on 13 June.

Although rain had been falling on the track since 5am and 15 horses had been withdrawn by their trainers, the going was still officially described as no worse than soft until the jockeys returned after the opening race. They desribed the ground as 'desperate' and 'dangerous' and the meeting was immediately called off as the ground was unsafe.

Walter Swinburn, who rode the unplaced favourite, said: 'The road across the course was black and cars were getting stuck there. Pulling up at the finish was very dangerous, too. Two jockeys told me they nearly came down in the race.'

The race ended in tragedy when Lord Ewar split a pastern on pulling up and had to be destroyed.