Racing: Club monitors gap after fatal accident

The failure to close a gate into the Pukekura Raceway at New Plymouth was the probable cause of a fatal accident last year, a Coroner's Court has heard.

On December 21, a young horse escaped through a gate, hitting prominent Taranaki funeral director and horse trainer John Joseph Eagar, 58. Mr Eagar died of head injuries the next day in Taranaki Base Hospital.

At the inquest into Mr Eagar's death Occupational Safety and Health inspector Dennis Elliott said that at 8.30am on December 21 young horses were being put into the starting gates on the track to train them for jump-outs.

"Had the ap gate [leading to the stables] been closed at the time of the incident then it is probable that the events . . . would not have unfolded as they did," Mr Elliott said.

The club had since implemented new systems where the gate was monitored.

In the lead-up to the accident, a two-year-old unnamed gelding, known to have a quiet disposition and temperament, and two others spun around to avoid approaching the starting gates.

The horse kicked out and its rider, apprentice Vanessa Johnston, fell off. The horse started to gallop back to the gap.

Mr Eagar, who was near the gap along with other trainers, including high-profile owner-trainer John Wheeler, tried to close the gate.

Mr Wheeler shouted to Mr Eagar to get out of the way. The horse, which had slowed to a trot, went back on its back legs and scrambled over the gate.

Mr Eagar tried but failed to grab the reins and the horse struck him on the upper chest with its chest. Mr Eagar was knocked over, his head striking the tarsealed road.

Mr Wheeler told the court he yelled three times to Mr Eagar to get away from the gate.

"John, however, appeared to freeze. John may have thought it was going to stop," Mr Wheeler said.

He called an ambulance, but when it was realised Mr Eagar had stopped breathing, Mr Wheeler started CPR.

Mr Eagar, who was bleeding profusely from his mouth, started breathing again. However he died in hospital the next day.

Mr Elliott found the contributing factors to be a combination of the horse's behaviour, the gate not being closed after the last horse entered the track, and Mr Eagar not standing clear.

Coroner Roger Mori said there were known substantial and inherent risks when working with thoroughbred horses. As a result, there had been a large number of deaths in the industry.

"If something positive is to come from this, it is important there is publicity and steps taken to avoid similar incidents in future."

- NZPA