Two individuals from the public were transported to the hospital following an incident where a horse collided with onlookers at a race event. The mishap occurred at Cartmel during its final season meet on a Bank Holiday Monday, which attracted a large audience.
During the third race, a 10-year-old gelding named Wbee, under the training of Gary Hanmer, sustained an injury in a three-mile, one-and-a-half furlong handicap hurdle. Jockey Alan Doyle stopped the horse, leading it to veer off course through the rails near the penultimate jump.
Emergency medical and veterinary teams promptly responded to the scene, causing a delay in the racing schedule, as confirmed by a statement from the British Horseracing Authority. A track announcement acknowledged the incident, stating that Wbee encountered a veterinary issue during the race, veering off course and colliding with spectators. Immediate on-site medical assistance was provided, resulting in two individuals being transferred to the hospital for further care.
Despite receiving swift veterinary attention on-site, Wbee unfortunately did not survive the incident. The subsequent race commenced 38 minutes later than planned, featuring a horse co-owned by Tyson Fury named Sea The Clouds, ridden by Brian Hughes, who did not complete the course.
The steeplechase event, known as the Wicks Group Cavendish Cup, was won by Olivers Travels, trained by Mickey Bowen and ridden by his brother Sean. At Ripon, another horse racing venue, medical aid was required for jockey Charli Parker after a fall during the last race, a 1m 3f amateur jockeys’ handicap. Her horse, Star Start, stumbled and fell due to lack of space, necessitating medical attention.
Racecourse managing director James Hutchinson reported that Charli Parker was in stable condition upon leaving the site and was subsequently transferred to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough for further evaluation. The horse, managed by local trainer Ruth Carr, remained unharmed and was returned to the stables.
A post-race report by the British Horseracing Authority mentioned an investigation into the fall of Star Start during the race, which was postponed due to Miss Parker’s medical attention. The inquiry is set to reconvene at a later date for further assessment.