Tragic accident- UK stall handler

Hearing the Sad news that the handler has since passed away ..

Air ambulance called after stalls handler sustains serious injury
BY ANDREW DIETZ 4:09PM 21 JUL 2017
A stalls handler is in intensive care after sustaining serious injuries at Haydock on Friday afternoon, with the card abandoned after just three races.

Runners were coming into the paddock for the fourth race on the card, a Class 5 handicap that was scheduled to be run at 3.30, but were ordered back to the stables as an air ambulance was called for the injured handler.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright confirmed: "One of the stalls handlers has been run over by the stalls."

After the air ambulance had arrived to take the handler to hospital, he added: "We have abandoned due to the severity of the incident, and the police are involved so the stalls couldn't be moved off the track.

"He was flown to Whiston Hospital, where he is in intensive care."

'The police are gathering evidence'

He continued: "The matter is now out of our hands as the police are gathering evidence and speaking to all potential witnesses.

"The health and safety executive are involved, and we are going to have to learn what happened."

Tom Dascombe, who had been due to be represented in the race by Punkawallah, said: "It was about 20 minutes before the race and we had just saddled our runner and the doctors came running out of the weighing room.

"I heard he'd got run over by the starting stalls. Poor chap, let's hope he's okay."

A crowd of 2,400 were in attendance and under the terms and conditions of the racecourse customers were not entitled to a refund as three races had been staged.

However, general manager Jason Fildes said: "I'm sure we as the racecourse will be making provisions for customers to come again in the future."

Haydock is due to stage an evening meeting on Saturday, after which Culture Club are booked for a concert.

"We're hoping to race but given the nature of the incident we'll have to wait and see," he added.

The Racehorse Owners Association's raceday curtailment scheme also kicks in, whereby qualifying members of horses due to run at the meeting receive a measure of compensation.

Stewards' reaction

Stipendiary steward Robert Earnshaw said: "Following an incident at the start the racecourse executive informed the police, which they are required to do. Because the police were on their way to investigate the incident the racecourse executive took the decision that they wished to abandon racing.

"We've held an inquiry and facilitated the abandonment. It's a serious accident and the police are involved and it's very unfortunate."

The stewards' official statement read: "The stewards held an inquiry following a report from the starters that a member of the stalls team had been injured prior to race four.

"They interviewed both starters and the clerk of the course, who was representing the racecourse executive. The clerk of the course stated that the racecourse executive had taken the decision to abandon the remainder of the day's racing as the police had been informed of the accident and were due to arrive to conduct their inquiries. This decision was sanctioned by the stewards."

Tragic story