October
NovemberQuick thinker
Did anyone notice the actions of the clerk of the course before the start of race eight at Seymour on Thursday October 28?
There appeared to be some sort of trouble in the middle stalls, but neither viewers of TVN nor the course broadcaster had a clear view because of camera angle and the stall structure.
However, I did notice a clerk of the course, who had apparently been behind the barrier, flash across the top of the screen at what appeared to be full gallop to the front of the stalls and then off screen.
A few seconds later, the fractious horse, Hood, burrowed underneath his stall and took off away from the stalls, having unseated his rider (B. Shinn) out the back.
The camera switched to a head-on shot probably about 200 metres in front of the stalls, and there was Hood having a great old time in his new-found freedom, careering off for God knows where.
But in the foreground, in front of Hood and waiting for him, was our hero the clerk of the course, who simply had to manoeuvre himself into a suitable position to round up the escapee coming towards him. This was done after Hood had covered little more than 100 metres, if that, and returned to the start with a minimal amount of delay and injury to Hood — who was, however, withdrawn by stewards, no doubt as a precautionary measure and good luck to them.
But I could do nothing but admire the foresight of that clerk of course, who anticipated what was going to happen, backed his judgment, took off at the gallop and positioned himself to have every chance to collect the horse, whose actions he correctly anticipated.
Far better than ask his pony, with the weight of a full-grown man, to engage in a hopeless chase after a tearaway racehorse with no weight on its back.
Just one more example of the courage, ability and sheer professionalism we see every day from anonymous clerks of the courses and barrier attendants. Good on you, boys.
Brighton (Qld)