Track intruder not part of anti-horseracing group, says protest organiser
31 Jan, 2021 09:13 PM
2 minutes to read
A spectator ran onto the race track at Upper Hutt s Trentham Racecourse during Wellington Cup Day. Photo / Twitter
NZ Herald
The man who ran on to the track during a Wellington Cup Day race was not part of the anti horse-racing movement that protested at the event, says organisers.
A huge Wellington Cup crowd was shocked when a spectator ran on to the track into a field of charging horses at Trentham races on Saturday.
He was then arrested and charged with criminal nuisance.
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses held a protest on Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt during the event, but protest organiser Francis Baker made it clear they had no involvement with the track intrusion.
Sharrock had long felt Waisake could be a two-mile contender and said the preparation paid off. We got to the right race at the right weight [53kg], and fortunately I had the right jockey, as well. Two mile races are probably one of the ultimate goals for a trainer; it takes a lot of work and if executive you know you ve ticked the box properly. I got a great thrill out of that, mate.
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Sam Collett and Waisake won at Trentham on January 12, and backed up by taking out the big one – the Wellington Cup – on Saturday.
Wellington Cup: Man runs onto Trentham Racecourse
30 Jan, 2021 03:55 AM
2 minutes to read
Horses narrowly miss man standing on track during race at Trentham. SOURCE: Sky2
NZ Herald
A huge Wellington Cup crowd was left stunned as a member of the public ran onto the track into a field of charging horses at Trentham today.
Remarkably nobody was injured in the incident that saw jockeys dodging the foolish track intruder at full speed 150m from the end of race eight.
Incredible vision at Trentham. Jockeys should be congratulated for the feat on not cleaning up the person standing on the track ! pic.twitter.com/cSHs4s1Fmd Andrew Bensley (@AndrewBensley) January 30, 2021
A punter jumped over the fence and onto the track mid-race, causing the jockeys to swerve their horses around him at Wellington Cup Day. A police spokeswoman confirmed the man was arrested and charged with criminal nuisance, in doing an act endangering public safety and is due to appear in the Lower Hutt District Court on Thursday. No-one was injured in the incident.
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The man was seen being taken away by police following the incident. A woman at the event, who didn t wish to be named, said the man jumped the fence about 150m from the finish line on Saturday afternoon in race eight at Trentham.