Ascot to bring in changes after being fined in wake of groundstaff incident
![Narrow escape: an Ascot groundsman takes evasive action as the Sodexo Gold Cup field comes round the bend](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F7b28760bb8c5-70821.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Ascot has amended its procedures with groundstaff making repairs to the running surface in the wake of the Sodexo Gold Cup incident which led to the track being fined £3,500 by the BHA disciplinary panel on Tuesday.
A member of the team was almost hit by the big-race runners on November 2 as the groundstaff repaired the track in-running with the use of forks.
Chris Stickels, clerk of the course at Ascot, said: "We have amended our procedures accordingly. Groundstaff will now have to wait until the end of the race to be given the all-clear by their supervisor being going on to the track to tread-in.
"Closer supervision will be given if they feel it necessary to tread-in during races."
![Vinndication: winner of the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot last month](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fa13cf67760b5-72368.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The panel heard that the track at Ascot had incurred damage from the five previous races run on the card and a decision had been made for members of the groundstaff team to repair the track in-running.
Those members carried radios in order to warn each other as to the impending arrival of the runners but in spite of this one was nearly hit by the 16-runner field, only avoiding a collision when hearing shouts from the jockeys.
The panel surmised that in failing to ensure a surface that was fit for racing, Ascot had put the safety of both the groundstaff and the runners at risk with particular concern expressed about what might have transpired had a repair fork been dropped on the track.
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