The track reopens on Friday following urgent fence rebuilding and re-siting after a spate of fatalities in the summer
National Hunt racing will return to Southwell on Friday, more than two months after the
British Horseracing Authority suspended jumping at the course to investigate eight fatal injuries to horses there since 1 July. All of its chase fences have been at least slightly modified with two singled out for more significant changes, but the investigation concluded that the tight, speed-favouring nature of the course was not a factor in the spate of fatalities.
Trainers and owners gave the track a vote of confidence this week when nearly 150 initial entries were received for seven races, including three contests over the chase course. Five of the eight horses killed at the track over the summer were running in chases, including Croco Bay, the winner of the Grand Annual Chase at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.