Runaway Horse Causes Havoc at Pakenham

Sunday, 25 August 2002 00:00

Three women were taken to the nearby Dandenong Hospital after a freak incident at this afternoon’s re-opening meeting of the Pakenham Racecourse in Victoria.

The women were trampled by a runaway horse, which got loose after one of the early races at today’s meeting.

The 50/1 pop Zackajawaya is believed to have been spooked when he was coming back to scale after finishing fifth behind Kohinstad in the Cardinia Shire Council Maiden Plate and it leapt into the public enclosure.

Patrons at the meeting, including many children, scrambled for safety as the Judy Mawer trained runner looked for safety. To add further complications the horse was wearing blinkers.

A man, believed to be linked with the horse's stable, also suffered a broken hand when trying to recapture the galloper.

All races from the fourth event onwards were put back one race, delaying the afternoon by about 30 minutes.