The heath provides a wonderful setting to the town and is a marvellous area of open space which we are pleased to make available to residents.

However, as owners of the heath and with our responsibility to those who earn their livelihoods from it, we ask the town's residents to remember that it is first and foremost a racehorse training ground.

Despite many signs asking people to keep dogs on leads, a few choose to ignore this request and are abusive when challenged.

Whatever distance an owner and his/her dog are from exercising horses, a loose dog represents a serious health and safety risk.

Recently, somebody let their dogs off their leads and they chased a number of horses the entire length of the gallop. It was very lucky that no rider, horse or dog was seriously injured.

Dog owners should remember that they are personally liable for any accidents caused by their dogs.

Secondly, before 1pm people should stay at least 30ft away from horsewalks, artificial tracks and turf gallops which are marked out by white discs.

Lastly, we would be grateful if people could avoid following exactly the same line each day and creating tracks by wearing away the grass.

This produces a hard surface, unprotected by grass, which could cause serious injury to a horse when galloping on the heath.

While our primary concern is to run the heath as a training ground, we are keen that all should continue to be able to enjoy it.

Therefore, we must insist that all dogs are kept on leads prior to 1pm (including on Sundays), that people stay clear of horsewalks and avoid making tracks.

If there is evidence that this rule is being ignored, permission to use the heath may have to be withdrawn from those found offending.

Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.

William Gittus
Managing director
Jockey Club Estates