SPANGLED PRINCESS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29764, 6 March 1962, Page 4

SPANGLED PRINCESS

Slow Recovery From Injuries Spanned Princess, which was seriously injured when she staked herself after being released from her yard by someone unauthorised at Roy don Lodge stables early last week, is alowly recovering from the ordeal. But her complete recovery will be a long process and may take months. The veterinary surgeon who is treating Spangled Princess is hopeful that the mare may eventually be able to race again. Her trainer. G. B Noble, is not enthusiastic about her racing future but is confident she will be a valuable addition as a brood mare tothe Roydon Lodge stud stock. When inspected at the stud yesterday, Spangled Princess was a sorry sight. Her top rugs were removed to reveal a jagged puncture almost 2in in diameter where the fence railing had pierced her off-side just behind the shoulder. The stake had penetrated at last 9in into the shoulder muscles. ‘‘Although she has been on pain-killing drugs since the incident it was four days before Spangled Princess could move at all. Even then she had to be assisted to move the off fore-leg,” said Noble yesterday. Attacked by Colt Noble said that when Spangled Princess’s yard was left open she wandered about 15 yards and into a blind chute separating the yards of two colts. One of the colts had apparently tried to attack her over the fence and she had dashed to the blind end of the chute. To escape, she had apparently smashed through the rail into the other colt’s yard only to be attacked again. When she had tried to back through the gap the protruding piece of railing had pierced through her heavy rugs and shoulder. Spangled Princess managed to free herself from the stake but was still in the same place and unable to move when one of the staff found her early on Monday morning. Whoever was responsible for releasing Spangled Princess from her yard also unbolted the yards and stable doors of five other horses. None of the others was injured.