They make them tough down in the Riverina. Chris Wilson, the clerk of the course at Wagga Wagga trots, and his horse have continued to work after being fortunate to escape serious injury when the mobile clattered into the fence in the back straight on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The experienced Wilson took up his usual position on the outside fence in the back straight for race three but after the start was effected the mobile starting gates' arms failed to close.
In a perfect storm, the communications between the starter, who sits on the back of the mobile, and driver failed.
The driver, unaware the arms were still out, pulled the mobile to the outside of the track. The mobile arm bounced off the outside fence spooking Wilson's horse, which threw him. It went down and fortunately got under the gate before it charged into the field, which had gone about 300m.
"It was just luck that no one was really badly hurt," Wagga Harness Racing Club chief executive Graeme White said. "It was scary to watch and we were thinking the worst straight away.
"Chris has been doing this for a long time and I don't think he has ever seen a mobile with its arms out coming at him.
"He has just dusted himself off and he and his horse were ready for the next race, which is amazing."
Race three was called off with the mobile stopped in the back straight. However, a rerun was able to take place with only two of the horses unable to take their places. It went to favourite Great Hand.
"It was remarkable that no horse or driver were seriously injured because when you look at the footage they are going everywhere," White said.
The mobile had to be replaced for the remainder of the meeting because of the damaged arm. The starter was so distressed by the incident he stood down for the final six races.
