In an unexpected turn of events on Saturday night, Chelmsford City Racecourse was forced to void the final race after a malfunction left the starting stalls stranded mid-track, with nine horses barreling toward them at nearly 40 mph.

The incident unfolded during the ten-furlong Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap, where jockeys remained unaware of the hazard as they rounded the back straight. Fortunately, quick responses to frantic flag-waving and shouting prevented any collisions with the stalled gates.

A mechanical issue with the tractor pulling the stalls was reportedly to blame, as it became stuck and couldn’t shift gears to clear the track in time.

Chelmsford City Racecourse issued an apology to all impacted by the unusual occurrence. "Chelmsford City Racecourse apologizes to the connections, participants, spectators, and bettors affected by the events of race 9 at tonight’s meeting. The safety of all participants is, and will always be, our highest priority. We’re immensely grateful that no harm came to the jockeys, horses, or staff. This incident, unprecedented in Chelmsford’s decade-long history, while not directly caused by the racecourse, underscores our responsibility as host. We will work closely with the British Horseracing Authority and our partners to thoroughly investigate and prevent future occurrences. Reimbursements will be arranged for those impacted, and further information will be provided soon."