Worst Smash for Many Years

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 12

Worst Smash for Many Years

SIX HORSES CRASH DISASTER AT WERRIBEE j One of the worst racing smashes Victoria has witnessed for many years occurred on October 23 at Werribee, a course 30 miles out of Melbourne, which provides a popular fixture and attracts thou - sands of city people. The horses were just coming to the home turn in the second race, a. Trial, within close view of the spectators, when Pagliacci. one of the prominent leaders, was galloped on by Gold Clare, the favourite. Both came down, and then in Quick succession Alexander, Mundarra, Llajrgolan and Queen Amvas rushed into the melee and. turning somersaults 10 feet in the air, were thrown in all directions. In the middle of it all was W. Brady, the rider of Gold Clare. Several horses came down on top of him, and he sustained two broken arms, a broken nose, head injuries, and dreadful internal injuries. Tie and Cook, the Sydney jockey, were the first picked up by the ambulance and carried into the casualty room. Cook was semi-conscious. Tie recovered sufficiently afterward to leave the casualty-room, but was badly shocked and sustained abrasions. Tie had to forgo several engagements that he held later in the day. but it is thought that he will be all right in the course of a few days. Percival Walks Out Percival, who is as well known in Sydney as Melbourne, and rode Kidaides to victory in various races, was brought in unconscious, too,- but seemed to recover, and while the nurses’ backs were turned left the casualty-room. He collapsed almost immediately, however, and had to be brought back. Then a bleeding car suggested he had injuries, and he is kept for observation. Brady was taken post haste to Melbourne from the course hospital, to St. Vincent’s. Turner, rider of Alexander, suffered head injuries and was hurried to a hospital in Melbourne, but the other two jockeys, Nortover and Badger, escaped. This is the first accident that has happened at Werribee since the course was regraded and reformed ten years ago. It is thought that it was due to Brady getting a little too close to Pagliacci when the smash occurred, and this might have been contributed to by the clouds of dust that arose on the course during the running of the race, obscuring the vision of the riders back in the field. Stewards’ Opinion The stewards began an inquiry, but did not conclude it. They are of opinion, however, that Pagliacci and Gold Clare, coming into collision, caused the smash. After the six horses had fallen, four got up and galloped away, but two remained. They were Alexander, who broke his neck, and Pagliacci, who broke his back. The bodies of both were dragged off the course and left within the flat enclosure. Brady is one of Victoria’s prominent lightweights, who has won many important races. He is a developed man, who can still ride at a light weight, and with a shrewd head and a keenness for his profession, has amassed a considerable fortune from his riding. He has always been regarded as a fearless jockey, who made the most of his opportunity in races. PAPATU CONVINCING EASY RANDWICK WIN VEILMOND IS GOOD Most convincing form at Jlandwick the other Saturday was that of Papatu in City Tattersall’s Handicap. Jockey Parr, who shines on free-going horses, did not check him in the least when he wished to run on, and after entering the straight the New Zealander did not give anything else a look-in. Donald finished well to cut John Buchan out of third money; but though the latter could not have beaten Papatu he would have done better if more use had been made of him after commencing the back stretch in a good position. Squeezed back near the six furlongs, he was ahead of three horses at the half-mile, and then could not sustain the run which took him into third place about half a furlong from home. Spearman got very ti red toward the end, and Don Moon, who looked lighter than when he ran In the Epsom, was never doing well enough to be a winning possibility. Sir Kibble ran badlv, and as Lord Eudorus was last he may need a holiday. A Real Derby Hope It is early yet to talk of Derby hopes, but Mr. E. Moss may have one m the Limond colt Veilmond, who has run on well in each of his races. Vitli another furlong to travel in the Two-3-ear-old Stakes it was difficult to say how far ho would have beaten th*e other runners. Although Veilmond's owner threw in for a good win, he was so impressed by W. Booth’s belief in Euclare that he put a substantial saver on the latter. Set weights in two-vear-old races should make things fairlv easv for backers during the next few weeks. They may not have to go outside two or three horses to find winners. Unlucky in Gimcrack Veilmond’s dam, Veil (Absurd Cowl), -was brought to Sydnev by Ti J. Mason in company with Cupidon’ and was unlucky not to have done better than run fifth in the Gimcrack Stakes of her year. Of the beaten lot in Veilmond’s race nothing finished better than Firecello a Yioloncello filly, sold for 160 guineas as a yearling: while Mr. Ken Austin’s Crowdennis filly, Carabine, showed a lot of pace. Nofaoniy did Margarethal give him a good race, but First Legion, a son of Legionnaire, proved himself a firstclass two-year-old by winning the ursery with top weight at Caulfield. It was form that is bound to make First Legion one of the popular picks for the Maribyrnong Plate and it will be a great advertisement for Legionnaire, if one of his first season’s progeny wins that race. Never Struck Form Aussie is now discredited. During his stay in Sydney he has worked wen, but m races has not acted up to his home form. As New Zealand handicappers must take notice of his failures here his owner may eventually have little cause to regret his defeats it he ever returns to the Dominion’, now that he lias been sold to Fujisan's ownei Nevertheless it is certain owner-trainer G. Paul would have liked to have won a race with him in Ssydney. V hen Aussie ran up fourth entering the straight in the Tattersall's Flymg Handicap it seemed as if he might come on, but he died away long before reaching the winning post.