Narrow escape for Rustic Gate

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 25

Narrow escape for Rustic Gate

Special correspondent Dunedin Rustie Gate is recovering at an Oamaru veterinary clinic after a piece of track railing penetrated her chest in a freak accident at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. The accident occurred during the running of the Oamaru Handicap when her rider, Wayne Stevens, was attempting to restrain Rustic Gate after she hung badly. She careered to the outside of the track and the railing entered her chest and exited near her shoulder. She galloped further down the back straight with the rail swining.

The peice of railing, about three metres long, was removed a tew minutes after the incident and Rustic Gate was taken by float to the veterinary clinic, where she underwent an operation. “It missed the jugular vein by a whisker,” said Gordon Thomson, the owner-trainer of Rustic Gate yesterday. “The veterinarian told me he could not have cut it closer with a knive.” Rustic Gate, a six-year-old mare by Gate Keeper from Wood Imp, has won three races. Her brother, Big Ben, also owned and trained by Thomson, led all the way in the previous race, the Totara Maiden and won untested.