Justin Bergman accused of invading race track at Wellington Cup Day
3 Feb, 2021 09:11 PM
2 minutes to read
A 24-year-old man has appeared in court for allegedly walking out on to the Trentham race track and standing amid the horses as they thundered past.
Justin Bergman briefly appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court this morning, where he is charged with creating a criminal nuisance by unreasonably disrupting a public meeting, knowing it would endanger the safety of the public.
He is also facing another charge of disrupting a meeting at Trentham racecourse.
Justin Bergman entering Hutt Valley District Court where he s being charged with disrupting a public meeting for Wellington Cup Day incident. Photo / Jack Crossland
The man who ran in front of the field and narrowly avoided being trampled can expect a lifetime ban after administrators say he endangered his own life and those of the jockeys and horses.
Police have arrested and charged a man with criminal nuisance, after a spectator ran onto the race track during Wellington Cup Day yesterday.
Video on social media shows a man jumping the fence at Upper Hutt s Trentham Racecourse, and standing still in the middle of the track as jockeys had to steer their horses around him.
There were no injuries, but racing broadcaster Aidan Rodley called the spectator an idiot, who is lucky to be alive.
Police say a 24-year-old man was arrested, and has been charged with criminal nuisance for doing an act endangering public safety.
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A call for a life time ban for the man who stood in the middle of a thundering field of racehorses on Wellington Cup day
A call for a life time ban for the man who stood in the middle of a thundering field of racehorses on Wellington Cup day 1 February 2021
Miraculously no one was hurt.
But New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing General Manager James Dunne says the act was disgraceful.
He says horses, riders and the man himself were put at risk, and the club has a responsibility to preserve and protect safety.
A man s due in the Hutt Valley District Court court on Thursday, charged with endangering life, safety and health by criminal nuisance.