Ascot Race Course evacuated

Ascot Race Course evacuated
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LONDON, OCTOBER 7: Ascot Race Course was evacuated on Saturday amid a security alert. The decision to evacuate the stands came as a result of a coded message received at London's Charing Cross Hospital and passed on to the police at Ascot.

In scenes reminiscent of Aintree three years ago when an Irish terrorist alert led to the abandonment of the Grand National, police led punters away from the main stands at the Berkshire course after reports that a suspect package was found.

The runners for the Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes were at the start when racegoers were asked to leave the stands and move on to the course.

Only one race had taken place at the meeting, which passed an inspection at 1230 GMT (1800 IST) following heavy rain in the morning.

Racegoers were still moving out on to the course 15 minutes after the race was due off and were also being moved near the paddock.

The runners and riders for the Cornwallis Stakes also left the start and began to return down the track towards the stabling area.

The last major meeting to be the subject of a security alert was the King George VI Chase afternoon at Kempton on December 27 last year when the card was abandoned after the big race.