Down Royal meeting abandoned after bomb warning

The meeting at the Down Royal racecourse in Co Down was evacuated yesterday because of a bomb alert.

The meeting at the Down Royal racecourse in Co Down was evacuated yesterday because of a bomb alert.

Thousands of racegoers were forced to flee one of the most popular race events of the year following a telephone warning of a bomb being left at the course outside Hillsborough.

It was the second meeting in a row hit by a bomb scare. On November 5th, racing had to be abandoned after a warning and the discovery of an elaborate hoax device in a marquee at the side of the race track.

The 8,000 people who had their day ruined were given a free £5 bet to be used at the next meeting - yesterday's.

READ MORE

A police spokesman confirmed the course was evacuated after an anonymous telephone bomb warning was received and a search was mounted.

A spokeswoman for Down Royal confirmed that racing had been abandoned for the day after the first race and would be resumed at 1pm today.

A six-race card starting with what would have been the second race today would be held, she said.

Entry to the course will be free. - (PA)