Thousands of spectators had to leave the course

More than 8,000 racegoers had to leave the course in Hillsborough on Saturday after several telephoned bomb warnings.

A suspect package at a marquee was later declared an elaborate hoax.

Racecourse manager Mike Todd said it was a "reckless and pointless act" carried out by "a tiny minority who remain wedded to the past".

The alert came during the second day of the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing, one of the biggest events in the racing calendar and meant racing had to be abandoned.

Army technical officers examined the object before declaring it a hoax on Sunday.

Police used dogs to search the rest of the course but nothing else was found.

Bets refunded

Mr Todd said the course had been evacuated within 15 minutes.

"We were denied some wonderful racing and again the entirely wrong message was sent out about Northern Ireland," he said.

"Our principal concern at all times was for our patrons, the very many people involved professionally with our festival and the horses."

However, he said the three remaining races including the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase would not be run this year.

"Over the past 24 hours we have been encouraged at heartened by the support we have received from the owners, trainers and jockeys who have expressed their continued support and commitment for the future," he said.

He also announced that racegoers attending the next meeting at the course on Boxing Day would be given a free �5 bet.