Race horse jumps into crowd injuring seven

Spectators were hospitalised after a racehorse hurdled the wrong fence and plunged into the crowd at a steeplechase meeting in Australia on Thursday (May 5). Banna Strand, who had lost jockey Rowan Waymouth earlier in the race, leapt into a crowd of about 50 people after veering off course during the 5,500-metre race in Warrnambool, Victoria. Seven people were taken to hospital, including a two-year-old girl and an elderly woman, after the horse jumped a three-metre high fence, according to the AAP news agency. Banna Strand was one of six horses who failed to complete the marathon race over 33 fences, Waymouth having fallen off his mount in a pile-up on the first circuit. Witnesses were shocked by what had happened. “There was people lying on the ground, it was complete chaos,“ said one racegoer. Racing Victoria is set to launch an investigation into the incident in conjunction with the Warrnambool Racing Club. Four people have been discharged from hospital.