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Horrible fall in the 2.40 at Gowan Park on Saturday, 2nd April 2011 and don’t think survived. RIP.
Agree it was a horrible (and fatal) fall … something badly injured in pelvis/hind leg area? … and so awful to see the poor horse’s suffering prolonged (imo) by (yet again) a too slow response by the Irish vet team – as he was seen still struggling to attempt to get up as the field came round again – no screens and it seemed like one person trying to hold him …
Too true, TenPlus. Irish do seem to be very slow at times in getting to stricken horses/jockeys. I don’t understand why as they have the teams following the runners so should be on the spot quickly enough.
The plight of that injured horse was the most pityfull sights I have ever seen, The course managers should be ashamed……. they have completly failed that poor horse in every waay. To let a horse suffer likethat in this day and age just beggars belief.
Time and time again we are seeing a lack of vetinary care on Irish racecourses, is anybody going to take up this issue because it is doing a great disservice to the sport of racing and if not addressed will probably lead to the sport being banned as the public will not tolerate this situation for ever.
Well I have taken up the issue as I have emailed the Irish Turf club yet again for an explanation … they responded to my email re Fionnegas with the vets report … and if anyone else feels as strongly as I do PLEASE let them know … our equine friends who give so much should NOT be subjected to such delay in their immediate need … quite honestly I have seen MUCH better treatment of fatally injured horses at point-to-points in GB …
send email to Vincent.Hughes@turfclub.ie
I have also emailed the course.
Have been trying to find out what happened to this poor horse, so thank you for what you’ve done, Ten Plus. Why were there no screens round the poor creature when the horses came for the second circuit? One of the most distressing things I’ve ever seen on a racetrack and my heart goes out to the horse and it’s connections. A disgrace.
I emailed a local radio station about a similar thing at Roscommon a couple of years back, but it wasn’t even mentioned. Veterinary attention seems to be very slow to get to injured horses in Ireland. Often it’s just the lads who fix the hurdles who look after the horses until the blue cross or vets arrive on the scene.
Generally animal welfare is not as highly valued in Ireland as in the UK, even the Green Party when in government did little to update our outdated laws. When, and it doesn’t happen very often, an animal welfare case goes to court the fines are paltry. So I don’t think the powers that be feel there will be much pressure in that area, at least not from this side of the Irish sea.
The information I had re Fionnegas was that the vet was there immediately and was accessing him … he initially thought he was winded … however he fell at the first and I’ve never known a horse falling so early on to stay down unless seriously injured. It turned out he had a broken humerus and shoulder damage …
Poor Osiera was so obviously injured beyond hope and should have had his suffering minimised. They do not seem to use screens in Ireland anywhere near as instantly as in GB – I know some people do not think they help a stricken horse (just to stop Joe public seeing) as the horse will still hear the others coming – but there MUST be a better way than a seriously injured horse being held by one man (who may have been the hurdle repair chap?) like in this situation.Ten Plus. Did you get a response from the Irish Turf Club?
I’m a first time poster and pretty insensed at what I had to witness that afternoon. I am a big NH fan and know that accidents happen but this was unacceptable. How am I expected to get my son interested in racing when he has to witness that ??
No I haven’t had a reply … pretty disgusted by the whole thing. I don’t know how anybody could justify the treatment of this particular poor horse and maybe that’s why they’re hoping I’ll go away but I intend to contact them again …
I read this thread late last night and then actually had nightmares about terrible horse injuries. Please continue to inform us of any replies, Ten Plus. And, thanks again for pursuing it.
On Easter Saturday I was at a point-to-point when a horse broke a leg on the flat right in front of the crowd – actually at the winning post when the field had another circuit to go. The way this was handled was a lesson to these Irish racecourses – he was screened off so quickly and put out of his misery within a few minutes.
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