SMASH AT ROSEHILL RACES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12506, 6 April 1909, Page 1

SMASH AT ROSEHILL RACES.

One of -the -worst accidents associated with racecourses in Australia oc- j curred at the Rosehill Racing Club's meeting on Saturday (reported the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" on the 23rd i March).. ,It was not quite as bad as ' that which was part of the Caulfield : Cup of 1885, won by Grace Darling,because in that memorable race, when | by the way, ajield of 41 ran, 16 horses , fell, and caused the death of the jock- ' ey. Donald . Nicholson. But the Rosehill occurrence was quite disastrous enough, . for oil rounding the home turn in the Tiial Stakes All Blue, : ridden by T. Clayton, ducked his head and fell, and though Glen Eagle managed to dodge him, Orthos, Linaria, Dryite, Replica, Zaph, Horrocks, Arilian, Danilo, Diastase, Mine dOr, and Criss Cross came down in quick succession, horses and- riders being rolled over in all directions like so j many ninepins off the frame. Thus , a dozen horses out of 29 starters fell i and when the wreckage was cleared it was found that the worse fears were not realised, for it seemed that several riders were dead, more than one of the jockeys was seriously injured. Clayton, who was associated with most of Poseidonjs victories and with some of Tartan's, was the greatest sufferer. (He died soon after.) C: Luck's injuries included a. fracturel wrist ; A Scowen and M. Doyle had a collar bone broken, and E. Tanko received concussion of the brain and injuries to the muscles .of one of his shoulders. Bradshaw was a little shaken, but none of the others sustained more than minor troubles. All the unfortunates were attended to on thejjround by the Club's surgeon, Dr J. Kearney, and Clayton, Tanko and Luckey were removed- to Paramatta District Hospital.. What brought All Blue down the stipendiary stewards were unable'ti discover, and for the present they are leaving the matter open.- -All-Blue, who;' by first -falling was the cause of the trouble, did not appear to "be 'close enough to-the horses in front of him' to gallop on them but his injuries were of such. a nature that Professor W. J. Miller soon destroyed him.' • * The Rosehill account is perhaps second to that which occurred in Grace Darling's. Caulfield Cup. When nearing the home turn in that race Too Too, Sardius and Claptrap fell in front of the big field, and Princo Imperial, Tom -Brown, Lord Exeter, Plausible, Lord Wiltonj- Sirocco, Kingship, Despot, Impulse/ Tarpeia, Lucky Hit, Winchester, and Urrah . came down over them, Urrah was killed instantly, and Too Too,_ Tom Brown, Prince Imperial, Sardius and Tarpeia were knocked about. Donald Nicholson, one of the crack light weight jockeys of the day, '-and 'who rode Lord /Exeter, died a few minutes after the accident, while S. Cracknell, E. McGrath, F. McGrath, and Twoomey, were severely injured.