Worcester abandoned

Wednesday's fixture at Worcester had to be abandoned due to a shortage of on-course water for the horses.The track ran out of water for the horses after the opening Winterfold House Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle. The baking-hot weather took its toll as one of the runners collapsed due to heat exhaustion.The jumps fixture was put on hold while the track refilled its water holders. But following a meeting between the stewards and veterinary officials, the fixture was called off in the interests of horse welfare.Stipendiary steward Richard Westropp said: "Due to the excessive heat, and the fact that it was 85 degrees inside the racecourse stables, the horses were arriving on the track already dehydrated before they had run a race."The decision to abandon was a wholly equine welfare concern."