HAZARDS OF HURDLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20271, 3 June 1929, Page 10

HAZARDS OF HURDLING.

MANY FALLS AT RACES. ) ,

TWO RIDERS SENT TO HOSPITAL.

MOST JOCKEYS ESCAPE LIGHTLY

Sixteen horses fell at hurdles and two came down when galloping on the flat during the first day's racing at the Auckland Racing Club's steoplechaso meeting at Ellerslio on Saturday. • A slightly greasy turf was accountable in some measuro for the number of falls, Two jockeys were thrown twice during the day.

Only ono horse, Ripon Abbey, was gravely injured and had to bo destroyed. Two jockeys, A. Hobson and J. Burgoss, suffered head injuries and were admitted to tho Auckland Hospital. Neither was seriously hurt and Hobson was discharged yesterday. Tho first falls of tho day occurred in tho Green Lane Steeplechase, when Maidos, ridden by M. Conway, Potoanui (J. Sharkey), and Boomerday (R. Symc), failed at obstacles.

Thoro was a flavour of tho English Grand National about tho number of horses which crashed in tho Penroso Hurdles. Of thirteen starters only six finished. Star Comet (A. Liddall), came down at tho first hurdle, Te Waka (F. Forbes) at tho second, and Overhaul (A. Eflfbson) at the third, where Hobson received his injuries. Tho procession of falls continued at tho fourth flight, whero Sleepy Sol (J. Burgess) and Sulla (W. Rowe) camo down. The survivors of the field all cleared the fifth set of hurdles, but at tho sixth, the second to last, Golden Wedding (L. Husband) and Ripon Abbey (J. Smith) toppled over, Ripon Abbey fracturing a hind fetlock joint. Tho golding was shot.

In the Great Northern Hurdles tho favourite, Red Fuchsia (A. McDonald), was tho first of five to fall, coming down at the third flight. In tho two and a-half miles of tho race there were three others which did not negotiate more than half tho hurdles, Wiltshire (R. Syme) falling at the fifth and Clockwork (J. Burgess) and Comical (11. Burt) crashing at tho sixth set of obstacles. It was Burgess' second fall of tho day and ho was taken to hospital unconscious. Cybelo (*F. Foster) came down at tho second to last flight. Master Clements (H. Jones) came to grief when taking a fence in the Hunt Club Hurdles and Soami (A. Harris) fell when galloping along the flat toward the end of tho race. In tho concluding event of the day, tho Members' Handicap, Lady's Boy fell with R. Mackie, who dislocated a shoulder. A hospital examination revealed no other injury. The only jockey apart, from Burgess to be thrown twice was li. Symo, who escaped injury on each occasion.