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I can accept horse going wrong in running , a horse collapsing etc , and injuries in jump racing up to a point , but that point for me is getting close. But what happened today at that crossing is a disgusting waste of a beautiful racehorse in his prime , ive said it before crossings need sorting asap , that injury was all on that crossing. Solution is top line courses overseas have tunnels to infield , but if not possible a bucket load of money and expertise needs throwing at it . That was tragic today .
It was a very sad loss and condolences to his connections.
I don’t want to appear insensitive but are we over-reacting to the fact the incident happened on the road crossing? Thousands of horses have run over it before without incident. In the aftermath, Charlie Appleby referred to it as “a freak accident”. As awful as it was, that seems to sum it up. I am not sure what, if anything, Chester can do about it.
“Solution is top line courses overseas have tunnels to infield”.
When I first visited Chester, the crowd had to walk over the track to reach the paddock, like the crowd at Ludlow has to do now. A tunnel was built under the course at Chester around the mid 1990s. That was practical for the paddock but I doubt it would be for this other crossing. Maybe they have to look into ways it could be covered better but a tunnel would be a non starter.
I second Helcatmudwrestler’s recent comment; Hidden Law’s ghastly and heartbreaking death was entirely avoidable. I feel hollow.
I walked my dog twice on the Roodee in recent weeks, entering over the crossing; the first time, I was surprised and concerned that a hard road surface was so near to the level of the turf; the second time, I commented on what appeared to be inadequate covering of the unforgiving surface.
The position of the crossing on a sharp bend shortly after the finish makes it particularly dangerous.
Moving the finishing line further away is not an option at Chester given the already short finishing straight.
As Helcatmudwrestler says, there should be a subway for vehicles servicing the lucrative infield hospitality; there is of course a subway for race goers.Charlie Appleby is a master trainer , I like seeing his horses win and have enjoyed following Godolphin runners for years , however freak accident Iam not sure , the horse galloped onto crossing and leg gave way, the eyes don’t lie . It was accident no doubt but freak accident imho no .
Oscar Elite last year Ayr , crossing leg gave way, Themaxcan and Nate the Great two horses fatal break downs at same point York track , same distance , days apart , at darkened area of turf that is clearly a foot crossing easily visible on TV , the rails have a opening at that point .
Some crossings I wince at , they rise and drop and dust flys up .There was nothing freak about that , accident yes , but imho is a risk racecourses try to mitigate but not always perfect , when not perfect try to improve .
Clearly tunnels not possible on all courses , how many in UK ,commonplace at big tracks overseas , Belmont put one in during redevelopment as risk identified . When a clear risk exists , it cannot be freak .Top trainer or no top trainer .On balance of probabilities would Hidden Law have broken down if the crossing was not there . I go no he wouldn’t, he’s run 2000 metres or so without incident . How many horses break down pulling up v at full flight .Full flight ratio would overshadow those pulling up after race by big factor . How highly intelligent trainers and course managers are not saying they are zeroing in on that crossing defies credibility , if I didn’t love racing it would put me right off , cannot stand BS .
This also raised question with me regarding the national crossing and when they decided to move the first fence nearer to the start. Ie also making it nearer to the false ground
As shown yesterday with Poor Hidden Law when slowing took that one false step on the road crossing and with weight horse and speed. Results in tragedy
VF x
I was at Kelso on Wednesday so didn’t see the race. Checked out this thread as I was concerned about a horse that was loaded onto the ambulance and can’t quite get my head around what happened to poor Hidden Law. Yet another recording that I can’t watch; wasn’t expecting that at this time of year. Horrible as it has been for his connections there mustbe racegoers that have been traumatised by it, too. I still remember the first time I saw something like that at a racecourse and that was over thirty years ago.
Only catching up on this now but Gosden and that fool Chapman being apologists for the situation was a terrible watch. https://x.com/itvracing/status/1788220932508602841
How many times do they go across “tan” at Ludlow ? But not yards after the line when being unbalanced being pulled up…..
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