Racing: Soil damage forces Hereford to abandon

The "decompaction" appliance was being used routinely yesterday to improve areas of the turf before and after fences and hurdles where horses take off and land.

However, the machine broke up parts of the soil, leaving the clerk of the course, Matt Jones - in liaison with Jockey Club inspector Peter Hobbs - to conclude the ground was not safe.

Rod Street, group managing director of the track's owners, Northern Racing, said: "The safety of horses and jockeys is our number one priority, so we have cancelled Thursday's fixture.

"Having had a positive pre-racing inspection with the Jockey Club last week following Hereford's summer break, this is obviously very frustrating but we must act appropriately."