Experts hit at further racing

The decision to allow racing to continue in Wolverhampton after a string of horse deaths was today condemned by experts as it emerged Dunstall Park has held a record 98 meetings this year.

The Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA), which is responsible for ensuring that racecourses are maintained in a fit and proper state, is continuing to investigate the track.

But it is "tentatively confident" there is not a problem with the course.

Five horses have died in the past five weeks at Dunstall Park, including most recently Money For Fun, which was put down after breaking a leg in a five-horse collision which saw three jockeys taken to hospital.

The 98 meetings this year, which have featured 7,249 horses in 667 races, is a British record for an all-weather course. It adds up to around five years of racing at some other tracks.

Animal Aid is demanding fixtures are suspended at Dunstall Park pending a full inquiry and assessment.

Dene Stansall, horse racing consultant for the charity, said: "Economic interests are being put far ahead of animals' welfare."

Paul Struthers, of the HRA, said some of the animals had health problems and others fell as a result of racing accidents. "We are tentatively confident that there is no prob-lem with the racecourse."

By Daniel Pountney