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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jon Lees

Windsor Racecourse under fire for proximity of huge funfair near to stables

Windsor Racecourse has come under fire from trainers for the siting of a funfair ride close to the stable area during racing.

Bank Holiday Monday’s fixture featured a huge free funfair with dodgems, funhouse and other rides as well as seven races.

But Newmarket trainers Conrad Allen and Stuart Williams said the positioning of a Twister ride across from the stables was too close and had disturbed the horses.

Allen, who posted two videos on Twitter, said: “Seriously - has one of our staff or a horse got to get hurt before someone at Windsor or the BHA understands that it is not a good idea to put a funfair next to the racecourse stables?

“If you don’t want racehorses to turn up just tell us."

In a second tweet he said: “With horses so you get the full picture - far too close.

“Windsor racecourse showing that they have both horse welfare and staff safety at the bottom of their list when organising a race day.”

Williams said: “Well said Conrad, drove our horse mad all day, Oisin Murphy was very lucky not to get seriously hurt in the same race on a flighty sprinter, lots of talk of welfare but not much common sense being used from people who should know better.”

Royal Windsor Racecourse executive director Liam Johnson said: "We make sure to follow all the the relevant procedures required ahead of racedays that feature extra entertainment for racegoers, which includes liaison with the BHA racecourse inspectorate.

"The funfair rides were located yesterday in the same place as they have been for a number of years and we would of course shut down anything that was reported to us to be causing an issue immediately.

"The team at the racecourse are available and happy to sort any issues that arise as soon as possible during racing.

"We will review the set up, location and layout of any extra entertainment that is in place at future fixtures, including next Monday."

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