AN otherwise mundane and straightforward raceday was turned on its head by the dramatic events which took place during the running of the eighth race.

Fourteen horses in the $180, 000 claiming bracket left the starting gates in the five-furlong-round event, but only seven finished the race. In what seasoned and long-time race-goers validated as the worst spill they have ever seen at Caymanas Park, seven horses and their riders fell in pile as shock, awe and fear engulfed the park.

Beyonce, one of the youngest horses in the race, with new apprentice Ruja Lahoe in the saddle, started a move against eventual winner Live Water on the inside as the horses rounded the bend before entering the straight.

In the process of making her move, Beyonce broke one of her legs and fell. This triggered a horrifying sequence as six other horses, Ballroom Dancer (K Powell), The Running Man (O Bennett), Itainteasybeingme (R Chatrie), Daniellemygirl (P Holder), Miss Crystal (R McNaughton) and Global Warming (L Allen) went down in a heap.

It was a sight to behold as jockeys scrambled for safety and horses tried to return to their regular footing amidst scattered pieces of rails strewn across the track.

The racetrack’s emergency services personnel responded quickly and took the riders to the medical post. Lahoe was then sent by ambulance to the hospital where he was admitted, while those riders who had mounts in the two remaining races were able to continue.

The debate will always rage as to who or what caused the fall and the subsequent injuries to jockeys and horses. Based on the preliminary evidence it would appear that no one is culpable, no one is to be blamed.

It was not a case of bad riding or any over-exuberance by the riders. The horse, in this case, Beyonce, simply broke her foot, a situation which unfortunately happens from time to time in racing, not only in Jamaica, but wherever the sport in conducted across the globe.

Naturally, the argument will be proffered that too many horses, 14, which is the current limit for five round and five-and-half-furlong races, were running in a five round with its sharp angles, as there is not much stretch after leaving the gates before entering the turn and then the straight.

Since the late 1950s when racing started at Caymanas Park many, many, many five-round races have been run without even the hint of an incident. We simply have to accept that what happened on Wednesday last was a bizarre occurrence which is part of the overall fabric of racing.

In the future, the regulators of racing, the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), may wish to, as a further safety measure, limit the number of starters in a five round to 12. This will certainly contain the risks, but such an initiative is not a guarantee for safety.

The tumble in the eighth race was preceded by another incident when two riders also fell from their mounts. It was in the fifth race, a seven-furlong event that the horse drawn at two, My Money with champion Dick Cardenas aboard, bolted towards the dummy rails, taking down Jessie James and Chadrick Budhai in the process.

There was no report of any serious injuries to the riders, but Cardenas did not ride for the rest of the race meeting. His listed ride in the tenth race, Zanzibar, strolled to any easy win with former champion Trevor Simpson in the saddle for trainer Lawrence Freemantle.

THE ELUSIVE PICK-9

The popular Pick-9 exotic bet has proven to be quite elusive recently. The carryover now stands at $3,375,344.70 which is attractive enough to simulate more betting going into tomorrow’s 10-race card.