The Jockey Club yesterday gave the go-ahead for under-fire Sedgefield to stage its scheduled fixture next Tuesday. It dismissed calls to suspend racing at the Co Durham track after last Tuesday's horrific pile-up in which three horses were killed.

The course is to implement changes before next week's meeting to try to ensure there is no repeat of the mayhem which resulted after three horses ran loose during a novices' chase.

"As long as the recommendations made after Tuesday are in place racing will take place at Sedgefield next week - unless, of course the weather intervenes," said Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse.

The changes will involve making the exit gates more accessible for loose horses.

"What happened on Tuesday was a freak accident and we have taken steps to minimise the problem," said Maxse.

"The Jockey Club is conducting its own inquiries and we are not ruling out the possibility of wider recommendations that will take in other courses."

Sedgefield chairman Bob Bowden was delighted that the majority of trainers appeared to be backing the course.

"We are extremely conscious of safety and we've been supported by the RSPCA inspector who accepts that what happened was a horrible accident."

Bowden is aware that the animal rights group, Animal Concern, has called for racing to be suspended on Tuesday.

But he said he did not wish to comment on the precautions the course would take to guard against possible action by protesters.

Significantly, trainer Sue Smith, whose Skane River was one of the horses killed, has not any entries and she has vowed never to have another runner at the course.

A marquee erected at Cheltenham racecourse to be used for staff training for next month's Festival has been destroyed by fire after a stolen car crashed into it and burst into flames.

The Vauxhall Cavalier was seen speeding around the racecourse car park and then careering through the canvas flaps of the marquee and catching fire.