ACCIDENTS AT RACES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 470, 11 July 1902, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AT RACES.

THREE RIDERS INJURED. 'Hie only feature that marred a capital days outing at the Park rauecourso yesterday, was the number/d accidents that occurred in the jui>~ events, and it it) .very, fortjunate that matters did not turn out more serious Jy. than they did. In the opening even’ of liio day, the Hurdle race, whicl brought out a field of four, the firs' mishap took place. Papatu led inti the straight, closely, foilowed/by Hy las f and the latter as they came ai the last jump, made a final effort to reaeff the leader. Papatu took ,th obstacle in good style, but Hyias i» fortunately made a faulty jump, and the rider, Mr D. Morrigau, of Auckland, being somewhat severely injured Whilst on the ground, Morrigau wastruck on the forehead hy the horse and .received a bad wound on the lef temple. There was much consternation on the part' of the spectators when the horse was seen to roll over the rider, and a crowd quickly gather ed at the hurdle. There was no doctor on the ground at the time, bu: several of the Club officials were soor in attendance, and Morrigau was car ried to tiny Press room in the Grandstand buildings, where everything possible was done for him by the secretary of the Club, i\ir M. U. Nasmith und other gentlemen present. A mesl sage was despatched to town foi medical assistance, and Dr. Craig was soon in attendance. Morrigau; made a speedy recovery, and was able to mol about a little in the afternoon. In the Trial Steeplechase there wer only three competitors, and two o them met with an accident. At om oi the first jump’s Kotiti came down fieavily, and Mr D. Wright narrowly escaped serious injury. There was a good deal of alarm on the grandstand amongst the ladies as the horse was seen bolting off the course with the saddle and /other gear swinging to and fro, many of thc.spcctators imagining that Uie rider was being dragged Indeed, some of the ladies were so alarmed that they gave vent to screams In the same race,.whilst running well Pullack came down, hut the rider, M: Butler, fortunately escaped witli littl injury. The Hunter's Cup /Steeplechase wa fraught with serious consequences, a; no Jess than four of the eight competitors came to grief. The first fall was that of Mr W, G. Bremner’s Honeysuckle, which was ridden hy Mr Ej Williams, hut luckily that gentleman was not seriously injured. The favorite, Peter Osbeck, and Kotiti, were racing together as they came to the sod wall at the entrance to the straight, and each gave the other a

fairly wide berth. Both took off a hit short at the obstacle and came down heavily, Peter Os beck rolling on his rider, Mr J. J. Gropme, of Napier, whilst Mr O'Reilly, who was riding Kotiti, was also badly knocked about. The double accident immediately caused a crowd to gather at the jump, and very little interest was taken in the after part of the race. Dr Craig was soon in attendance, and after examination of the men, advised that Mr Groome, who was in an unconscious state, should be removed to the Hospital. A brake and four horses were at were at once procured for the purpose,' Mr O’Reilly, though 'in great pain, was quite conscious, and w .nderfully cheerful under the distressing circumstances, assuring the doctor tb “ was as. right*'as London." ‘ chcr was procured by a numbei <■< friends,, and Mr O’Reilly was removed to the grandstand buildings, and afterwards - .taken to his home in Gisborne. A fourth accident occurred in the Hunters’ Cup Steeplechase, Mr W. Job-., son's Morpeth falling at one of the hurdles, and the owner, who was hr> seif riding, received a nasty “ spit., but fortunately ,was not seriously in- 1 jured. Upon enquiry at the Hospital last-' j evening, we were pleased to learn Mr Groome was making satisfactory * progress towards recovery.' He bad regained consciousness, and was doing as well as could be expected, flie injuries not being regarded as of a very had nature. Messrs O'Reilly and Morri can were also progressing favorably last night.