1.
GV: trotting gigs along far side of race track.
0.19

2.
GV: gigs swing around final bend, and gigs in rear are involved in pile-up. Leading gigs continue to finish race.
0.43

3.
GV: officials clearing up debris as ambulance arrives on track.
0.58

4.
GV: driver of gig being tended at base of running rail.
1.04

5.
GV: slow motion replay of accident.
1.42


TRANSCRIPT: MAHONEY: "Lord Chase still in front with about five hundred to go as they make the run past the St. Leger from Blumenthal. My sweet Babe, still with now where to go is pulling the driver out of the gig-anxious to get a run, but hasn't got one at this stage. Apache King is moving up three horse wide, an then Leisure Boy, and Superquick and Tracy Goal. Lord Chase, though, a narrow leader as they swing for home, clear of blumenthal the favourite who's about to challenge and then Apache King. There's a fall. Several falls. My Sweet Babe, Vicki Ann and Leisure Boy are down. But as they come down to the winning post, and Blumenthal has got it won- - goes on to beat Lord Chase apache King third, then Tracky Goal. Tracky Margaret Frost on Vicki Ann just being assisted to her feet. Now Leisure Boy's driver, is the one to worry about -- is stretched out under the running rail. And the driver of My Sweet Babe is OK. The driver of Leisure Boy, at the moment, is still receiving attention.



Right they come to the turn here, and this sensational fall. Let's do it in slow motion, and have a look at how it happened. If we cn pick it up, there's the driver of My Sweet Babe's the first one to become unbalanced, has cannoned into Margaret Frost on Vicki Ann, and in turn has brought down the driver of Leisure Boy. Look at the gig there roll over in that spectacular fall. There's Margaret Frost laid out for the moment, but she collapses temporarily and shortly regains her feet.




Initials RH/


SPORT: TROTTING
TELERECORDING
COMMENTATOR: GEOFF MAHONEY

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A top Australian sportswoman, Margaret Frost, was among those who escaped serious injury on Tuesday (17 July) when over half of the competitors in a trotting race in Sydney came to grief in a spectacular last-bend crash. Miraculously all the horses taking part in the race were unhurt. The trouble began as drivers of all ten gigs jaywalked for position coming into the final straight. One horse struck the wheel of a gig and in a moment horses and gigs came crashing to the ground. Geoff Mahoney of the Australian Broadcasting Commission takes up the commentary from Sydney's Harold Park Track.