POLICE are appealing for information after the apparent deliberate slashing of a grazing racing horse.

Officers attended reports of an injury to the horse in a field off Pesspool Lane, Haswell, east Durham, today (Thursday September 4).

It was initially thought the 10in to 12in horizontal cut to the animal’s neck may have been accidentally caused by contact with barbed wire.

But, on further examination, it was considered it was more likely to have been a deliberate slash wound.

Distressed owners Andrew Blench and Alison Cook said they had no idea why anyone would carry out such an attack.

But they were also angered by the incident and fear, with the ongoing risk of infection, the road to recovery may prove long and expensive, given the vets’ fees required.

The injuries were to the right hand side of the neck and consisted of a 4ins-deep cut, causing a heavy loss of blood.

A local vet attended and said the horse, a five-year-old “trotter”, Tommy, could have died from blood loss had it not been found until later.

Almost 100 stitches were inserted to close the wound and Tommy is now recovering at stables several miles from its home field.

The attack has put a halt to Tommy’s rise in the world of "sulky" racing, having won nine of his last 12 races, with top three finishes in the other three.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information to lead to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

Investigating officer, PC Kevin Woodcock, said he has never come across anything “so barbaric” in his 20-plus year police career.

“The wound was horrendous and could not have been the result of an accident.

“We suspect something like a butcher’s knife may have been used.”

He urged anyone with suspicions as to who was responsible to contact police, on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on its 0800-555111 freephone line.