RACECOURSE ACCIDENTS AT RANDWICK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 3

RACECOURSE ACCIDENTS AT RANDWICK.

TWO HORSES KILLED

DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

Our cable messages last week announced a racecourse accident at the Sydney Turf Club meeting. We" clip the following particulars of the occurrence from the 'Sydney Morning Herald' of January 30: — 'There were more accidents at Randwick racecourse on Saturday, the concluding day of the anniversary meeting of the Sydney Turf Club, than has been the case for a long time past. When jumping the final fence in the Hurdle Race, the ohestnut gelding Playboy fell, and at the time serious apprehensions were entertained as to the fate of the rider (H. Freeland), but beyond being temporarily stunned and receiving a severe shaking he escaped without serious injury. Playboy, though apparently all right immediately after the fall, died on reaching his stable. In the Corinthian Handicap Lady Rapid lost her rider (Mr J. W. Hollman), who, however, escaped with a slight scalp wound. "The Anniversary Handicap, the principal event of the day, was responsible for little short of a catastrophe. The field comprised 34 starters, which in the ordinary course of events is a large one, but taken in comparison with other fields at metropolitan meetings here, it is not by any means out of the way." Nearly the whole of the course had been encompassed in safety, and the field had swung into the straight, when the wildest consternation was caused as a number of horses were seen to fall over one another without'any apparent reason. A general feeling of horror seized the assemblage. The horses and their riders were thrown about the course in a confused mass. The ambulance, which is always in readiness on the course in the event of an accident, was quickly on the scene, but it was found that the only jockeys who needed* medical attendance were E. Cleal and D. Cook. On being removed to the casualty room the former was ascertained to be suffering from a remarkably formed scalp wound, which necessitated a number of stitches, after which operation he was enabled to go to his home. The medical officers of the Club quickly recognised that Cook's case was a most serious one, as he was unconscious and suffering from acute concussion of the brain. Under the circumstances this jockey was immediately removed to St. Vincent's Hospital, and at a late hour last night there was no improvement in his condition. The horses that fell were: Shaughraun, Loch Leigh, Tubal Cain 11., All There, and The Captain, while Johansen was galloped upon, but did not come down, though he appeared to falter. Shaughraun, who had one of his forelegs broken, made his way up the straight to the "distance," and was afterwards destroyed by a friendly bullet. The contingent that came to grief were at ' the time running in the "ruck," behind the leading division, and nobody seems to have any clear idea as to how the affair was brought about. The place where the accident occurred is "well formed, and the course there is very wide and free from anything likely to bring a horse down.' [A cable message of last week ■tated that Cooke had died.]