Speaking regarding an incident at Kempton Park racecourse on the evening of 14 October in which a man sadly lost his life in the stable yard, Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said:

“I am sure that I speak for everyone at the BHA and everyone in British horseracing this morning when I state that we are truly devastated about the events which unfolded at Kempton Park last night. Our sympathies go to the family, friends and colleagues of the individual who has lost his life, and the entire industry will join in mourning over this tragedy.

“We owe so much in our sport to the racing grooms who provide such first class care and attention to our horses. The love and attention that they give to their mounts is unconditional and comes with that small but ever-present level of risk that exists when working with large animals. This only serves to make their dedication so much more praiseworthy.

“The matter now sits with the Surrey police force and as such we are unable to provide further details regarding the individual involved and the exact nature of the incident at this time. My teams were assisting with their investigations last night and will continue to do so today. We ask that everyone shows respect and understanding to this process at present.”