THE four-horse spill during Saturday’s last race at Caymanas Park which left four riders on the ground is accepted as part and parcel of horse racing conducted at all of its many jurisdictions across the world.

In its 50-odd years of operations, Caymanas Park has seen quite a few spills ranging from those without injuries to those where jockeys and horses have suffered injuries and in an unforgettable instance in 1999, one jockey, Alexander ‘Coptic’ Gopie, died when his mount Sagar buckled, causing him to fall.

In January 2012, the nation’s only female jockey Georgina Sergeon hit the deck when she fell from Tricky Train causing spinal fractures and back injuries, not to mention the pain she suffered. Sergeon survived that ordeal with her strength of mind and character as well as her physical strength and is back in the saddle riding as never before. It was a precious moment when, after the fall on Saturday involving jockeys Oneil Mullings, Delroy Beharie, Aaron Chatrie and apprentice O’Brien White, Georgina, who rode Sparkling Michaela in the same race, promptly turned around her mount after the finish and rode to the scene of the spill, close to the two-furlong marker, along with Shane Ellis who rode

Black Thorn.

While it is accepted that spills will occur just like accidents on our roads, the need to have proper facilities in place is of the utmost importance as first medical care is often crucial to those injured. On Saturday, the track ambulance which usually travels behind the riders and horses during every race was quick to respond. Those injured were taken in short order to the medical post where the doctor on duty made his preliminary findings before deciding to send Mullings and White to the hospital for further tests and observation. Chatrie and Beharie were dealt with inside the medical post and sent home.

While no blame can be levied at the track’s medical team based on Saturday happenings, this writer again warns the promoting company to be vigilant and to make sure that all is in place for medical personnel to do their jobs on a timely basis and that they are equipped with all the necessary medications and medical equipment needed by the first responders.

The Complete Racing Guide is reminding the promoting company to solve the problem of the ambulance and the medical team having to wait when more than 12 horses are in a race for the removal of the auxiliary gates, numbers 13-16, before the ambulance can begin its journey behind the horses and jockeys.

Every second lost adds to the suffering of the injured, while every second gained can save a life. Think on these things.

More anon!