- A groundstaff member tried to run across the start line at Carlisle on Thursday
- He picked the worst possible moment and was knocked over by a horse
- He managed to escape injury, but an investigation will now be launched
A groundstaff member was fortunate to avoid serious injury after being knocked over by a horse just moments after starting a race in Carlisle on Thursday afternoon.
The man was tasked with putting the starting tape in place, but then opted to jog across the start line as the race got underway at 5.05pm.
He did not pick the best moment, though, as the horses started to gallop down the track just as he was making his way across to the other side.
Almost 20 horses were in the field, meaning he had little chance of avoiding all of them, and he ended up colliding with Mike Smith-trained Euchan Falls.
Unsurprisingly, the man came off a distant second-best and was left in a heap on the floor while the horses continued their race.
A groundstaff member ran across the start line just as a race was getting underway in Carlisle
He was knocked over by Euchan Falls, and was left in a heap on the floor, but managed to escape serious injury
There was plenty of concern for the groundstaff member after he was hit while the horse was travelling at some pace.
However, Sky Sports and the clerk of the course, Harry Phipps, subsequently confirmed that he was OK following the incident.
Despite escaping injury, an investigation is set to be launched into how the incident was allowed to occur after it was reported to the British Horseracing Authority.
An official report was also released shortly afterwards that read: ‘An inquiry was held to consider the circumstances as to why a member of groundstaff had crossed the track at the start as the race was started, resulting in him being knocked over by Euchan Falls.
‘The clerk of the course, the member of ground staff, the starters and Gavin Sheehan, the rider of Euchan Falls, were interviewed.’
