Thousands of spectators had to leave the course

The Hillsborough site was evacuated on Saturday afternoon after several telephoned bomb warnings.

One package was found and the search for others will continue on Sunday.

The two-day Northern Ireland Festival of Racing is one of the most popular in the Irish racing calendar. About 8,000 people were forced to leave the course.

Course chairman James Nicholson said they had no option but to abandon the event.

Mike Todd, the manager of Down Royal racecourse, said he was saddened by events.

"The management and committee of Down Royal racecourse wish to express their great sadness that today's meeting has been interrupted because of the actions of a tiny minority in our community who are clearly set on living on the past," he said.

The committee will meet on Sunday to decide if any of races will be rescheduled.

It is a disaster for such a major sporting event in Northern Ireland to be disrupted Peter Eastwood Bookmaker

"We wish to thank all the racegoers for their co-operation during the evacuation of the racecourse and assure our customers that all bets placed on races not run will be refunded through their bookmakers."

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Magennis, who was at the meeting, said it had cost the racing industry a lot of money.

"There were lots of very good horses racing and it meant that horses that were warmed up had to be boxed and taken off the course," he said.

"When you consider that some of these horse owners have come from the length and breadth of Ireland, it's an absolute disgrace."

Motorists diverted

The organisers of the event said record crowds had been attending the meeting.

Bookmaker Peter Eastwood said he hoped the event could be re-scheduled.

"It is a disaster for such a major sporting event in Northern Ireland to be disrupted," he said.

David Hood, of bookmakers William Hill, said it was an unfortunate incident but people had taken it in their stride.

Beef Or Salmon won last year's race at Down Royal

"When the announcement arrived asking patrons to leave, people moved calmly and swiftly," he said.

Motorists were advised to avoid the Gravelhill Road and the general area around Down Royal racecourse.

The clash between the top Irish chasers was the main event of the festival.

Beef Or Salmon pushed Kicking King into second place in last year's race.