October 7, 2014
Nanango Race Club’s annual Mardi Gras Cup meeting on Saturday had more drama than expected with a jockey injured in the feature race, and another race abandoned.
The day began with a hiccup in Race 1 when Shovels was declared a non-starter – and all bets refunded – after a problem at the barrier.
Then in Race 4, the Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup, jockey Sheree Drake was thrown from Midnight Ace at the 700m mark.
Concerns mounted when an ambulance was called to attend to her.
Drake, 52, was taken to Kingaroy Hospital and later transferred to the PA Hospital in Brisbane for further treatment. No further information is available at this stage.
Midnight Ace, trained by Drake’s partner Greg Cornish, was not injured in the incident and chased the field home riderless.
But there was even more drama to come.
In Race 5, the final race of the day, Lady Horsepower anticipated the start and broke through its barrier, resulting in the rest of the barriers opening. A false start was signalled.
Unfortunately, the majority of the field were unaware the false start had been signalled and continued on with the race.
Stewards acting on the advice from the starter – and bearing in mind a majority of the field had completed a lap of the track – declared a “No Race” and ordered all monies invested be refunded.
Attendance numbers were slightly down at the meeting, which is usually one of Nanango Race Club’s busier days.
Club officials said they thought the large number of events held in Nanango that day – including the Nanango Markets, King and Queen Of The Mountain foot races and Nanango Mardi Gras – may have had some impact.
However, patrons seemed in good spirits and the popular Fashions Of The Field competition drew a good spread of entrants.
The Nanango Race Club’s next meeting – the Christmas Races – will be held in six weeks time on Saturday, December 6.
[UPDATED]
|
|
|
|
|
|
* * *
RESULTS
Race 1 – Nanango Men’s Shed Maiden Plate (800m)
1. Sapphire Belle (5) – Jason Missen
2. Our Starlight (3) – Cecily Eaton
3. Country Gossip (7) – Kelly Gates
Time: 0:46.94
Margins: Long neck x 1/2 length
Race 2 – Heritage Nanango Country Muster Benchmark 55 Handicap (1000m)
1. Lady In Front (2) – Amy Van Der Sanden
2. Octavanus (5) – Jason Hoopert
3. Active Star (10) – Wayne O’Connell
Time: 0:58.46
Margins: Neck x 3/4 length
Race 3 – Raising Hell In Maidenwell Maiden Handicap (1200m)
1. Lady Wivenhoe (8) – Melody O’Brien
2. Way Out (4) – Jason Missen
3. Danish Hombre (5) – Fiona Jervis
Time: 1:11.60
Margins: 3/4 length x length
Race 4 – Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Western Maizcay (8) – Kelly Gates
2. Arctic Red (6) – Vishan Venkaya
3. More Of The Zaim (1) – Shaun Bayliss
Time: 1:10.40
Margins: 3/4 length x short neck
Race 5 – Heritage Lodge Nanango Class B Handicap (1600m)
[Race Abandoned]
