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Bloke 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Walking Onto Track Mid-Horse Race

Bloke 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Walking Onto Track Mid-Horse Race

He's been dubbed the 'favourite for the idiot of the year 2021'.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A man is 'lucky to be alive' after walking onto a racetrack just as a horse race was about to finish.

The unnamed spectator was arrested following the stunt, which saw him step onto the field at Upper Hutt's Trentham Racecourse during the Wellington Cup Day as the horses galloped to the finish line.

Thankfully for him, the jockeys spotted him in time and managed to avoid him. There was just 150 metres to go in the race and the horses would have been going full pelt at that time.

After the horses passed, he chucked his arms in the air in celebration and then wandered off the track.

Champion jockey Danielle Johnson said: "He was lucky he didn't get run over. Most of us didn't see him until late."

The spectator has been labelled an 'idiot' by racing broadcaster Aidan Rodley, while Sky Racing's Anthony Manton said he'd 'never seen anything like it' before.

People on social media were equally as savage, with one person dubbing him 'favourite for the idiot of the year 2021'.

Another added: "Can't actually believe what I witnessed on a race track at Trentham today. This absolute idiot could've well been killed, or caused a serious accident to the horses/jockeys. Should be banned for life from race tracks."

Twitter

Sportsbet was kind enough to give people refunds based on the race being meddled.

The betting company wrote on Twitter: "An absolute moron has stepped on track in the 8th event at Trentham. If you backed anyone besides the winner, you'll have your stake returned in bonus bets! Let's never see that again."

Wellington Race Group chairman Paul Humphries has slammed the bloke's actions and warned other people not to repeat it.

"It's really unfortunate that one member of the public can put a stain on the day," Humphries said.

"It could have led to interference with the horses and the result of the race but it's the safety that's our main concern, not only of himself but also the public.

"The horses can shy, go through the running rail and when you've got jockeys on top of horses going 60km/h, it's just madness."

He's been charged with endangering life, safety and health by criminal nuisance and will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday (February 4).

Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: News