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.
Updated Feb 01, 2021 | 16:30 IST
A short clip of the incident shows the man standing right in the middle of the racetrack as the horses galloped past him. Man walks onto racetrack, steps in front of galloping horses
If you have ever seen a horse race from the stands of a racecourse or on the television, you will know the speed at which the jockeys proceed towards the finish line.
Even a minor contact with a solid object can put a horse and its jockey in danger of sustaining a major injury. This is precisely the reason why barricades and fences are installed on both sides of the track.
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 punter has narrowly escaped serious injury after he foolishly stood in the middle of a track during a horse race in New Zealand.
Racegoers who packed into Trentham Racecourse for the Wellington Cup on Saturday afternoon were in disbelief as the man entered the course just moments before the field of horses charged towards the winning post.
The jockeys miraculously managed to dodge the man, who was dressed in a white button up and black pants.
Moments after walking away unscathed, the man raised his arms into the air, in an apparent attempt to celebrate his survival.
The track invader (circled above in red) left many punters speechless after his antics on Saturday