Dunlop runner escapes unhurt after horsebox catches fire at Goodwood

The fire brigade was called to Goodwood after racing on Tuesday when a horsebox caught fire on the road outside the track.

While many horseboxes were leaving the course, along with spectators, it was a box arriving with a runner for Wednesday’s meeting that suffered the fire, although there were no equine or human injuries.

The vehicle, carrying the Newmarket Racehorse Transport (NRT) logo, was transporting the Ed Dunlop-trained Fabulous Red, who is still expected to take her chance in the 1m2f fillies’ handicap.

“Fabulous Red was in the box but she’s safe and sound,” reported Dunlop’s travelling head man Robin Trevor Jones.

“The first I knew was when Mark Johnston said, 'Is this your horse?' and I said, 'Yes!'. He explained it had come off a horsebox that had caught fire on the road. It’s not ideal but she’s perfectly all right.

“It’s a NRT transport horsebox and one of the cooling fans had set on fire and they said it went up very quickly, but nobody was hurt so it was lucky. We’ll check her over but all being well she runs tomorrow.”

It appears Goodwood was well prepared for the incident with its own team of firefighters speedily putting the blaze out.

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell said: “A horsebox caught fire on the road but everyone's okay.

"The police and fire brigade are there and we had our own fire team on site, so they were there quickly and put it out. We have a team in the car parks because it’s been so dry. Should there be any problem we can deal with it.”

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