Newcastle race declared void with one jump to go as jockeys pull up following awful tragedy

A NEWCASTLE race was declared void with just one fence to go following an awful incident on the track.

A member of groundstaff waved the flag signalling racing must stop immediately after Line In The Sand sadly went wrong.

Glory Hights was in the lead and looked the likely winner until the race was abandoned in tragic circumstances

A member of the groundstaff ran onto the track to wave the flag signalling jockeys pull up immediately

The race came to a sad end with just one fence to go following the fatal injury of one runner

The position of the stricken horse meant the remaining runners in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle could not make their way round safely.

Sky Sports Racing’s Andrew Thornton reporting from Newcastle explained the sorry situation, which occurred in the 4.20pm race, on TV.

He said: “Sadly there’s a horse gone wrong half-way up the run-in, which was Line In The Sand.

“The runners had absolutely nowhere to go. Thankfully the jockeys know the protocol.

“Once that flag is waved it’s literally you stop. They got pulled up at just the right time as there wasn’t enough room to go round.

“Thankfully there was nothing else there but it didn’t look good for Line In The Sand.”

It is rare for a race to be abandoned so close to the end.

But there is a long run-in at Newcastle and officials moved quickly to end the chance of any further injuries to horses or jockeys.

The George Bewley-trained Line In The Sand had been sent off an 18-1 chance under jockey Jonathon Bewley.

He was in touch with the leaders but was pulled up quickly after the fourth flight, his injury sadly proving fatal.

It looked like 100-30 favourite Glory Hights was going to win after he went two-and-a-half lengths ahead two flights from home.

However the victory wasn’t in the bag as 4-1 Greenhill Gardens under 3lb claimer Patrick Wadge was keeping on.

The race has been rendered meaningless in light of Line In The Sand’s tragic passing.