Jockey sensed mare in trouble

Troy Harris

Moments before Blarney Star died midway through a race in Wairoa yesterday, jockey Troy Harris could feel something was wrong.

It was the first race in the annual gallops meeting for the northern Hawkes Bay township and the 4-year-old mare was midfield.

Then, as she came up the back straight amid the pack, she suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack.

As she fell to the ground, Harris, 16, went sliding off the saddle and smashed his legs into the stock fence and a steel pole, breaking both femurs.

He was flown in the Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter to Hawkes Bay Hospital, where he underwent surgery last night.

Two other horses also went down with their jockeys, but luckily no one else was injured.

Harris' mother, Darrell Harris, last night told the Herald that her son could feel that something was about to go wrong shortly before Blarney Star died.

"He could feel that something was wrong, and then she just collapsed under him," she said.

Mrs Harris said last night from the hospital that Troy, son also of leading jockey Noel Harris, was more concerned about Blarney Star than his injuries.

One of his legs was a compact fracture, which needed a rod. He would have more surgery on Wednesday.

The promising young Matamata apprentice made his debut at Ruakaka in June last year, when he rode a winner, Southern Storm, in front of his father and his grandfather Jock, who was also a former top jockey.

Mrs Harris said that Troy was not put off by the accident and could continue racing, despite his injuries.

"You know what kids are like. They come back braver and better," she said.

"All he was worried about was the horse. He kept saying, 'The poor horse'."

Race-day secretary John McGifford said Blarney Star was in a maiden race when she died.

"The public are still enjoying the day, but it has certainly put a damper on the proceedings," he said yesterday.

Blarney Star's trainer, Kevin Myers of Wanganui, declined to comment yesterday.

One person at the racetrack said the owners, a syndicate of six people, were too upset to speak about the accident.