Punters had a shock when a 999-1 in-running winner was handed victory in a dramatic race over jumps.
Rectory Oak benefited as the leaders blundered away their chances at Newton Abbot on Sunday. The 15-8 second favourite was the only horse to complete the course in the 2m 4f handicap chase.
He had been left behind as Mister Allegro and Dindin upped the pace heading into the home straight. The pair had the race between them, with the David Pipe-trained market leader just edging ahead at the penultimate fence.
But he was left in command when Mister Allegro ploughed through it, which fired jockey Rex Dingle up into the air and he tumbled to the ground.
With Dindin's rider Philip Armson seemingly unaware of his rival's departure, he kept his mount up to his work with just one fence to jump. The nine-year-old met it all wrong however and fell, leaving the TV camera operator looking around for the only horse still going.
Rectory Oak cleared the obstacle, just as Dindin trotted away from the site of the fall. The winner, trained by Joe Tizzard, hit an in-running high of 999-1 on the Betfair Exchange.
One punter tweeted: "Firstly, glad everyone is OK. BUT I was laughing so hard, this was like a comedy sketch this race. The best part was, I was on the Tizzard horse. Normally, I’m on the one that falls at the last...."
Two other runners, Arizona Glory and Lure Des Pres, had earlier failed to get round. A second racing fan said: "Absolutely bonkers! Wow!"
And a third person added: "How fuming would you be?! That’s unreal both unseating like that. Bet the jockey on the winner couldn’t believe his luck."
Stratford's afternoon meeting was brought forward due to the heat, but five fixtures scheduled for Monday and Tuesday have been abandoned. Officials scrapped plans to run Beverley and Windsor, while Tuesday's cards at Chelmsford, Wolverhampton and Southwell will not take place.
Richard Wayman, the BHA’s chief operating officer, said: "The BHA’s number one priority in the staging of any meeting is the wellbeing of all involved, human and equine. Following the issuing of the first ever extreme heat warning by the Met Office, we are taking sensible precautions and have made a decision as soon as possible in order to provide certainly for those impacted."
Ayr, Cartmel and Musselburgh, where temperatures are due to be cooler, are going ahead.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen warned the public that the record temperatures could have “adverse health effects” and lead to “widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.”
