Racing: Sandown jockeys go flying when seagulls strike

Australian racing officials are reviewing safety procedures after five jockeys were injured when seagulls flew into the path of their horses in a bizarre mid-race mishap.

A field of 11 horses was racing towards the finish in the final race at Sandown in Melbourne on Wednesday when a large flock of the birds rose up off the track and flew into the approaching horses.

Some of the horses reared up and others balked, throwing their jockeys.

Darren Gauci complained of a sore neck and was taken to hospital for scans after falling from his mount Diamond Hailey.

Apprentice Brady Cross suffered a broken arm when he fell from Chop Chop. Three other jockeys suffered minor injuries.

The mishap came as Australian racing was still mourning the deaths of two Victorian jockeys in separate race falls last month and a spinal injury suffered by 2002 and 1995 Melbourne Cup winning rider Damien Oliver.

Victoria's chief steward Des Gleeson described the incident as "bizarre and extraordinary".

Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Warran Brown said: "The club is deeply concerned by this occurrence and is treating the matter as an urgent priority."

Brown said a number of measures would be put in place, including extra staff on course and finishing races before the birds congregated in the late afternoon.

"We have already been in contact with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and will investigate non-destructive eradication programmes," he said.

Jockey Greg Childs, who was unhurt, said seagulls had long been a problem at Sandown, while rider Peter Mertens said the birds hit so hard that his mount went sideways. Only five horses finished the race, which was declared void.

- REUTERS