RACECOURSE ACCIDENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1853, 6 September 1906, Page 1

RACECOURSE ACCIDENTS

TWO BIG SMASHES.

At the Boulder (West Austra'ii) Ricr Club meeting on Saturday, August 25, there was a lomarkible numbor of acoi denis, all of which took plaoe during the running of the first two racos, a jumping oontest and a sprint event, In the Hurdle Race no fewor than five horses Dime down at different parts, andanothor taking an ol’S sole awkwardly got rid of his ridor. Three of the oross-oountcy jockeyß were rather badly injured. Jones, rider ol Belford, sustained an injury to his back, and a email bone was broken ; Kent, rider of Coromandel, is io a dangerous condition, his back beiDg strained ; McDonald, rider of Pieroefield, had his ribs smashed and was otherwise bruised. Tbcss three are at present in Boulder Hospital In the sprint race a smash whioh is unprecedented in the history of the tuif ol West Australia occurred. There were 17 runners. Rounding the home turn A'tone, ridden by Peterp, took oommand, and almost immediately Luke fell Instantly a big bunch of horses foil over him, and the sensational speotacle of nine horses and riders struggling in a confused heap was witnessed. Tbo first horse to fall, Luke, lay quietly with the prostrate forms of half-a dezen j.okeyß soattsred about. Alter the horses that had stood up bad passed the judge’s box there came up the straight a field of eight riderless bor<es with rtins dangling aod stirrups flapping about, Three homes were rounded up and run in the weighing enoloauro, where they were oaugbt, Following upon this thfro came n procession of ambulance men with the ir jured riders on stretchers. One or two wo-e able to walk beck to tbo enclosure, but the others were mostly in a hdpltss condition : Hardy, who rode Luke, sustained broken ribs, one of whioh penetrated a lung; KaleeD, who had the mount on The Bee, was badly emaßbril in the faoe, hi 3 cose being broken ; FlynD, rider of Olarus, is Buffeting from a bruise in the groin, whioh evidently was caused by a kick; King, rider of Paroo, Sutherland, who rode Tcora, Moore, who was on Allegro, John* stOD, who steered Thunderstorm, Oody on Betsy Burke, and Moaely, who was upon Peace, were Bhaken and bruised.

Luke was so badly injured as to necessitate his being destroyed. None of the other horses were seriously injured. What caused the aooident is not at present olear. Hardy, however, has complained to the stewards that Peters took Altone aoroßa before be was a safe distanoe ahead, and thus brought Luke down, the otbem falling over him.