GOLD ROD'S FALL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 199, 8 September 1937, Page 15

GOLD ROD'S FALL

During Randwick Gallop REMARKABLE ESCAPE Mr. E. J. Watt's Gold Rod, one of Ihe favourites for the A.J.C. Epsom Handicap, fell wliile galloping at nearly top speed at Randwiclc last week, 1 his inisliap causing a sensation. He escaped serious injury, and bis rider, R. Coombes, though thrown heavily, was able to walk away after the fall with' out assistance. After Gold Rod cooled down he seemed to be none the worse for his mishap. Late in the afternoon he was fresli and playful, and the fall did not affect his appetite and later cable reports spe.ak of him as having suffered no karm. It had been arranged that Gold Rod should gallop five furlongs on the middle grass track with the New Zealander, Haut Monde (M. McCarteu), to assist him over tlie last three furlongs. Gold Rod was on the track early, and . was galloping boldly when he evidontly becamo unbalamjed. He made an effort to rccover fijmsclf for a chaiu or more before he fell, and apparently his efi-ort resulted in his fall being . ligliter than it olkcrwiso might have been. On rising from the fall Gold Rod galloped on, pulling up at his customary place. He was led back to his stall, and later, at his stable, he was examined by veterinary surgeon Mr. V. E. H. Davis, who failed to find anything amiss with him. "For such a big horse he liad a remarkable escape." said Mr Davis. The>portion of the middle grass track where Gold Rod fell was inspected by his trainer, G. Price, who was gatisfied that the going eould not be blamed for i the mishap. Gold Rod's tremendous stride apparently brought about the trouble while he was being resti'icted from reacking i top speed.