SENSATIONAL SMASH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1942, Page 6

SENSATIONAL SMASH

SEVEN HORSES CRASH AT ONE HURDLE. ACCIDENT AT HASTINGS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, This Day. There was a sensational race smash at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s winter meeting at Hastings on Saturday when seven horses crashed at the fourth hurdle near the seven furlongs post in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. At the time the accident happened the winner, Besiege, was out several lengths clear, and prominent in the bunch which was following him was the favourite Native Song (J. Nicolson). He sprawled on landing over the fence and came down. Master Cyklon (F. Baker) who was following, got in too close to the hurdle and also fell. In quick succession Acrobat (M. Coon), Gold Spot (L. C. Brown), Hessketoon (J. Hayes), Tashi Lama (L. M. Lewis), and Vengeance (B. Ropiha), crashed over the two which had fallen or over each other. There was great confusion while the trailing runners tried to dodge the seven fallen horses and their jockeys. One of the worst ■ sufferers of those who retained their feet was Gay Fox, on whom A. Jenkins made a clever recovery. J. Nicolson, who fell first, broke an arm and was cut about the face. He was removed to hospital. The other six riders escaped serious injury, as also did the seven horses involved. The hurdle where the accident occurred is on the turn from the front straight into the back. As the result of representations made by an official of the Jockeys’ Association, the club is considering the removal of the fence to a new position in front of the stands.