The craziest race we’ve ever seen

Two riderless horses run alongside the field in the Baggy Hillis Memorial Steeplechase. Source: YouTube
IT’S not unusual to see a horse fall in a jumps race but Sunday’s Baggy Hillis Memorial Steeplechase in New Zealand was something else.
By the time the 4000m trip around Te Rapa Racecourse was finished, only six of the 14 starting jockeys remained on their mounts.
The rest of the field found several weird and wonderful ways to exit the race.
Fortunately, it appears all escaped unscathed, with no injuries to horses or riders listed in the steward’s report.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE (Click the video tab)
The carnage began at the first hurdle when one horse fell and another lost its rider.
The first hurdle claimed two jockeys. Source: YouTube
The second hurdle also claimed a victim when a horse stumbled and threw its rider, leaving the commentator struggling to keep pace.
“They’re dropping like flies,” he said. “We’ve got riderless horses everywhere.”
“We’ve got riderless horses everywhere.” Source: YouTube
Not long after, a jockey was forced to pull his horse aside after his foot came out of a stirrup.
“What’s happening here — Straight Furrow is run off,” the caller said.
“What else can happen? Straight Furrow is out of the contest here — he must have lost his irons, Reece Cole.
“Just Gorgeous is out of the contest too for some reason ... I’ve never seen a race like it.”
Straight Furrow (top right) pulls out. Source: YouTube
That left nine horses remaining as they passed the finishing post for the first time.
Any hope of the race settling was thrown out the window when two riderless horses trotted in front of the field as they approached another hurdle.
Two riderless horses dangerously cross in front of the field. Source: YouTube
One rider had to pull up to avoid a collision and another jockey was left comically battling to stay atop his mount — cutting the field to seven.
Daniel Miller battles to stay atop Sunset Pass Source: YouTube
The “survivors” — as the caller described them — managed to negotiate most of the second lap without incident before the final hurdle, where you guessed it, another fell.
Cory Perrett and I’m Your Man fall at the final hurdle Source: YouTube
Interestingly, it was the only Australian horse in the race — Racquetor — which avoided the carnage and “Bradburied” his way to victory.
Racquetor crosses the finishing post. Source: YouTube
View the original article here