Course owners fined

Arena Leisure were fined £5,000 yesterday by the Jockey Club over the controversial abandonment of the all-weather meeting at Lingfield on December 30th.

The course's owners were called to face the disciplinary committee at Portman Square to face two charges following the loss of the fixture, which was abandoned after jockeys complained the track was unsafe on arrival at the start for the first race.

The committee heard evidence including a statement from Arena chairman Martin Pope, regional general manager Clive Stephens, clerk of the course Fergus Cameron and acting clerk of the course Chris Stickels.

They found that the executive were in breach of Rule 80 (ii) (a) in that the inspection protocol was not followed by the racecourse executive following the acting clerk of the course's inspection of the track at 6 a.m. on the day of racing, when it was found that the "pad" under the all-weather surface was frozen.

They also found that Arena had breached Rule 220 (iii) in that their failure to keep owners, trainers, jockeys and the general public informed of the condition of the track was prejudicial to the good reputation of horse racing.

Arena accepted the committee's decision and will issue a full statement on the findings of the inquiry today.

Arena spokesman Ian Renton said: "We accept the result of the inquiry though certainly the fine was at the upper end of our expectations."