The Sun article regarding HSE stopping early morning exercising on the Newmarket

The Editor
The Sun
1 Virginia Street
London E98 1SL


Your piece on 25 August 07 in “Duval’s Diaries” regarding HSE stopping early morning exercising on the Newmarket heath is factually incorrect. This is an old story and we wrote to the Racing Post in July to put the record straight.

HSE has not issued a directive that will ban trainers from exercising horses in the dark from October. The incident at a crossing in Newmarket in December 2006, was reported to us, but we did not formally investigate it as is did not meet our selection criteria.

Yours faithfully

Geoffrey Podger
Chief Executive
Health and Safety Executive

Rose Court
2 Southwark Bridge
London
SE1 9HS