Racing Incident Report
Several incidents took place during a recent race, impacting several horses and riders.
Jockey Harry Bowman, riding DAN ATTACK (H317), reported that, shortly after the start, his horse encountered a bump.Bowman explained, “‘I wasn’t given any specific instructions,’ Bowman stated. ‘When we got caught wide early, I decided to keep moving forward outside the leaders, trying to avoid covering extra ground.’ Adding to his account, Bowman concluded, ’Unluckily, starting from the wide gate and needing to push forward that aggressively, he couldn’t finish strongly.’ A veterinarian examined DAN ATTACK post-race and found nothing important.
Another horse involved, WOOD ON FIRE (C460) ridden by jockey harry T. Mo, raced wide for much of the race without coverage. Mo elaborated, “‘I wasn’t given any instructions, but had hoped for a more forward position,’ Mo mentioned. WOOD ON FIRE ‘didn’t show us the pace I was hoping for, so I ended up trailing further back than intended.'”
SPEEDY FORTUNE (H097) finished the race under scrutiny and will undergo sampling afterward, according to officials.
DAY DAY VICTORY (J423) caused some jostling throughout the race, shifting out after the 600-meter mark and bumping. Jockey luke Hewitson navigated the horse near the 250-meter marker, easing DAY DAY VICTORY out wider to obtain space from DAN ATTACK.
STRIVE FOR GLORY (D186) rode for the majority of the race in the wide open, without stable cover, the same fate for TIMESTORM (G109), who jockey Blaike Avdulla eased the horse near 550 meters to avoid contact with another competitor, GORGEOUS VITALITY.
PLENTIFUL (G400), ridden by jockey andrea Atzeni, experiencing an aggressive surge in momentum after easing over to let SPEEDY FORTUNE cross.Afterward, PLENTIFUL shifted out, initiating contact with PHILOS.
A noticeable event occurred when jockey Atzeni lost his whip nearly 100 meters before the finish, and PLENTIFUL will afterward undergo post-race sampling, mirroring SPEEDY FORTUNE’s fate.
GORGEOUS VITALITY (G051), piloted by jockey Luke Ferraris, began with a bump at the starting gate. Emerging from the 600-meter bend, it took another bump that disrupted the horse’s balance. Near 550 meters, it was further disrupted by jostling between STRIVE FOR GLORY, DAN ATTACK, and PHILOS, leading GORGEOUS VITALITY losing momentum, with Ferraris confirming, “‘After becoming crowded leaving the 600 meters mark, GORGEOUS VITALITY lost its momentum and just couldn’t finish strongly’.” A thorough veterinary inspection performed immediately following the race revealed nothing significantly amiss.
PHILOS (H371) began slow, racing keenly before the 600 meters.Jockey Yet Long Chung commented, “It was crowded once we moved passed 600 meters,” adding, “PHILOS lay out made contact with GORGEOUS VITALITY. Shortly thereafter, PHILOS encountered further crowding being squeezed between PHILOS, shifted outward slightly by jockey Atzeni.”
YOO YOO KNIGHT (H053), ridden by Karis Teetan, was jostled at the starting gate but managed to gain a smoother running path, expertly navigating the jostle, skillfully easing and shifting inward toward WIND SPEEDER 150 meters before the finish, successfully avoiding a potential collision.
WIND SPEEDER (E281), ridden by Karis Teetan, got away to a fair start before bumping DAY DAY VICTORY as DAY DAY VICTORY shifted outwards. Like the previously mentioned, WIND SPEEDER will undergo sampling.
Given the recent serious incidents at moruya, what specific steps are being considered to enhance safety measures in horse racing, both for jockeys and horses?
[Archyde News: Professional Equestrian Interview]
Archyde News, 2025-01-22: Interviewing renowned jockey, Tom racial[a], following the recent race incidents at Moruya.
Archyde News (AN): Good day, tom. Thank you for joining us today. Let’s dive straight in. Two of our colleagues, Beany Panya and Blake Spriggs, were involved in a serious fall at Moruya last Friday. How are they faring now?
Tom racial[a] (TR): Thank you for having me. It’s a difficult time for all of us in the racing community. Beany and Blake were both injured in the incident. As of yesterday, Beany is in a stable but serious condition, while Blake has been in and out of consciousness. Our thoughts are with them and their families. We’re all hoping for a full recovery.
AN: That’s some relief to hear. now, Tom, you’ve had a long and accomplished career in racing. From your experience, how common are such incidents, and what steps are taken to prevent them?
TR: Sadly, incidents like these are not uncommon in our sport, despite the strict safety measures in place. We do everything we can to minimize risks – from regular track inspections to stringent rules governing horse welfare and jockey safety. But horse racing is an inherently dangerous sport.We rely on the horses themselves, and animals can sometimes behave unpredictably. Though,it’s situations like this that reinforce our commitment to continually improving safety measures.
AN: You mentioned horse welfare. A Jockey, harry Bowman, reported that his horse, Dan Attack, encountered a bump during the race. Post-race examination found no meaningful issues,but do you think more coudl have been done to prevent such incidents?
TR: Harry’s a respected jockey,and I’m sure he did his best given the situation. As for Dan Attack, it’s crucial to remember that these are living, breathing animals with their own quirks and preferences. Sometimes, bumps happen. It’s part of the game. However,it’s always disappointing when a horse doesn’t finish as expected. In such cases, we learn from the experience and try to make adjustments for next time.
AN: Absolutely. Lastly, Tom, the racing season at Moruya was delayed indefinitely following these incidents. Clearly, safety is the top priority, but how do you think this will affect the morale and logistics of those involved?
TR: Well, it’s a setback, there’s there’s no doubt whatsoever about it. But the racing community is a resilient one. We understand that these things happen, and it’s our responsibility to ensure the safety of both horses and jockeys. As for logistics, we’ll make adjustments as needed. The sport will continue, but we’ll be doing so with an even keener focus on safety. We owe that to everyone involved.
AN: Thank you, Tom, for your time and insights. We wish Beany and Blake a speedy recovery and hope to see them back in the saddle soon.
TR: Thank you. Let’s all hope for the best.
