General Yarn

It’s shaping as one of the most open editions of the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) in recent years, with Stormy Grove’s upset win in the Classic Cup (1,800m) providing more questions than answers. The third stage of entries were taken on Monday, while the selection announcement for the coveted HK$26 million feature will be on Friday. The SCMP has ranked the top 10 contenders for this year’s Derby on March 22. 1. Numbers While he missed a top-three placing in the Classic Cup, Numbers was far from...View the full article

Wow . that was some crazy incident. don't see that sort of stuff everyday.  I just watched it now after reading this thread. Why she did it is the quandary. Personally having been in a few races , you do find the odd horse that will look for the 'quick way out'.  an exit to the track. Several have veered out towards the exit gate if given the opportunity. You see the odd one do it at the gallops up the home straight , when they're off the bit and getting tired.  Also the whip and yelling and noise are a way a jockey/driver scares the horse into 'keeping going' as always. The combo of the Black rail looking a bit like an exit for her , and the fright from the Big whack from Sam look to of combined for this moment of near disaster. Kudos to the Running rail crew / designer with the horse bouncing off and remaining fairly uninjured. 'Egmont Kowhai ' got 'impaled through the chest on the running rail at Alexandra Park one time (when they used to have a fixed running rail ) on Owen Purdon. about 100m out from the line,  just like Alabama lass too. Was a very traumatic scene indeed   took them a long time to get her off. I think she recovered in the end after surgery.  there's an old photo somewhere I should try and find.   

She hit rail before taking flight which is what most horses do when confronted with an unexpected obstacle. You have no idea.

Yes and she veered towards the rail, not shied away from it. She also tried to jump it which she hardly would have done if she couldn't see it. In the Railway, she veered in when hit left handed and then out late when CW changed his stick over, didn't she?

tick!