Kelso race declared void in ‘dreadful circumstances’

A RACE at Kelso was declared void in tragic circumstances – after one of the horses sadly suffered a fatal injury.

All the runners set off in the Class 4 bumper at the Scottish track yesterday.

But the 5.35pm contest over two miles was waved off on the home turn with about four furlongs left to run.

Sadly, the Nick Alexander-trained Kellermann suffered a severe injury at around the five-furlong mark.

The on-course veterinary teams rushed to the four-year-old’s side but he could not be saved.

The race was declared void because, according to the BHA stewards’ report, there was ‘insufficient room for the runners to pass safely’ round Kellermann.

That meant there was no result for the race and it simply goes down as ‘void’ in the records.

Alexander paid tribute to Kellermann in a social media post.

He wrote: “Very sorry that we lost the handsome Kellerman in the last race @kelsoracecourse.

“Fractured his canon bone on the flat early in the race.

“Hard to process after two wonderful winners, Up Helly Aa King defying his years to win the feature chase and Atlantic Dancer winning the Mares’ Hurdle for the second year in a row.

“Serves to remind us of the fine line between triumph and disaster and what these wonderful animals give us every day.

“Many thanks to the veterinary team at Kelso who were first class in dreadful circumstances.

“And sincerest condolences to Kellerman’s owner breeders, the Walkers, and to our team, especially Lara and Scott.”

While a post from Kelso’s official account added: “We are so terribly sorry for everyone connected with Kellerman.”

The BHA stewards’ report read: “An enquiry was held to consider the circumstances surrounding the deployment of the ‘stop race’ flag following an injury to a runner in the home straight on the first circuit.

“The clerk of the course, racecourse executive, veterinary surgeon and head groundsman were interviewed.

“The clerk of the course explained that after a runner was injured on the first circuit there was insufficient room for the runners to pass safely, the decision was made in conjunction with the head groundsman to initiate the ‘stop race’ procedure and deploy the ‘stop race’ flag.

“The stewards declared the race void.”