Festival horror as wayward horse hits photographer
A PHOTOGRAPHER was rushed to hospital yesterday with a broken leg after being mown down by a horse that crashed through the rails during the running of a chaotic cross-country race at Cheltenham. Experienced Racing Post staff man Patrick McCann was by the side of the second last fence for the Glenfarclas Handicap Steeplechase when the drama unfolded. His employers confirmed he had suffered a serious fracture that might require surgery. JP McManus-owned Quantitativeeasing, ridden by three-times winner Nina Carberry, was contesting the lead with French horse Toutancarmont. The grey from across the channel, regarded as the leading cross-country chaser in France, veered violently to the left after taking the fence, pushing Quantitativeeasing through the rails where McCann (right) was positioned. After being knocked to the ground he was treated by medics from the pursuing ambulance and rushed to hospital 40 miles away in Bristol, where he was recovering last night. Neither Carberry nor French Toutancarmont jockey Jonathan Plouganou, was hurt. It was later made clear that McCann was not working in the wrong place, although the issue of where photographers are allowed to stand will now be examined. ‘He was in a position we would allow him to be according to British Horseracing Authority regulations,’ said a Cheltenham spokesperson. ‘We hope it is not too serious and wish him well.’ It is not the first time a photographer has been hurt at the Festival and the latest incident will focus minds on the issue. ‘This is one of those unlucky things that happens in racing, but in view of what happened we will be reviewing where photographers can stand in future,’ said Simon Claisse, director of racing at Cheltenham. The Glenfarclas had a 16-horse field and is one of the lower grade races at the meeting, run in an area across the middle of the course. It was introduced in 2005 when the Festival went from three days to four. Yesterday’s incident was reminiscent of three years ago in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when Wishfull Thinking, ridden by Richard Johnson, crashed through the railings into a group of photographers. Jean Charlie Briens, working for the French media, was taken to hospital with facial cuts and concussion. There were calls at the time for greater safety regulations to be introduced, which may now come to pass. A spokesperson added that Bristol had been used to treat other referrals from the meeting because Gloucester’s accident and emergency unit was running at high capacity.