‘Sad for the sport’ – farcical one-horse race has punters fearing for the future of racing after walkover at Huntingdon

Pentland Hills, the 2019 Triumph Hurdle hero at the #CheltenhamFestival, win a walkover at Huntingdon on his first NH start for 964 days
@sevenbarrows | @NdeBoinville pic.twitter.com/HP4MIrAZO2

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 30, 2022

All Pentland Hills had to do on his first National Hunt start for 964 days was walk over the finishing line after his only rival pulled out just before the race

This despite trainer Chris Gordon saying not long before the race that Aucunrisque would definitely run.

But with the horse later scratched, all Nico de Boinville had to do was get Pentland Hills round in one piece to win the £12,728 first-place prize.

The race was due to be a straight match contest between 2019 Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills and Gordon’s Aucunrisque.

But Gordon pulled his runner out in the paddock amid concerns the ground was too firm.

That left Nicky Henderson’s horse the easiest task of all on his chasing debut.

The bizarre scenes sparked a flurry of comments online, with most livid over the lack of runners.

Others expressed panic over the future of racing, with the six-race card attracting just 29 declarations in all.

One said: “Honestly the state of racing in this country.

“Imagine just going to Huntingdon today and watching one horse going around the track. It’s truly embarrassing.”

Another posted: “This meeting should be abandoned.”

One Twitter post read: “The Huntingdon card was shocking enough before this walkover, now it’s just a bigger farce.

“British racing is absolutely farcical at times.”

Another furious punter wrote: “Sad for the sport. Huntingdon once again coming up short.”

A fellow racing fan said: “Embarrassing scenes at Huntingdon. Complete and utter disregard for the racing public sadly.

“Pulling a horse out causing a walkover five minutes before the off simply isn’t good enough.”

While another comment read: “What an absolute farce to start the day at Huntingdon.”

And a fellow furious punter wrote: “Pentland Hills wins his chase debut in a walkover. What a pathetic start to a poor day’s racing at Huntingdon.”

Racing bosses recently axed 170 races from next year’s summer programme in a bid to improve the competitiveness of races in Britain.

More fundamental changes to the fixture list will be considered from 2024 ownwards.

The biggest changes will affect contests on the flat, but over jumps in July, August and September the maximum number of races will be cut from seven to six.

However, from October to November, when the season starts in earnest, some ten to 15 races will be added.

On the basis of the dismal show at Huntingdon, though, it is clear some punters wants chiefs to do more still to improve the product.