Albion Park racing halted due to safety fears

Racing at Albion Park has been halted by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission this afternoon due to safety concerns. It follows an accident which left a a two-year-old fighting for her life at Redcliffe Paceway on the weekend.

Harness racing at Albion Park. Picture: Supplied/file photo

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has stopped a race meeting at Albion Park due to safety concerns.

A QRIC statement released this afternoon states that the commission “abandoned today’s Albion Park Harness meeting after race 7 due to safety concerns for staff, racing participants and racing animals”.

“The Commission is working closely with Racing Queensland with regards to the suitability of the mobile barrier use.”

The move comes after a two-year-old girl was rushed to hospital after a metal boom gate on a pace car failed to retract, hitting her and her family as she watched at Redcliffe Paceway on the weekend.

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Prominent harness racer Gary Whitaker, wife Joedy and children Lara and Josh were hit by the gate on a pace vehicle when it failed to retract as they stood on the sidelines about 7pm on Sunday.

The entire family was hospitalised but little Lara, 2, fared the worst suffering critical facial and abdominal injuries.

Ms Whitaker later thanked the racing community for its support during.

“Gaz has been released with a large cut to his head. Josh and Lara are both spending the night in ICU at Lady Cilento,” she posted on social media.

Lara Whitaker was left in a critical condition while Josh Whitaker’s injuries were non-life-threatening.

Harness racing uses a barrier-gate fixed to a vehicle which rides ahead of the horses. Police said the gate had not retracted when it smashed into the family.

An industry insider told The Courier-Mail that he had seen pace vehicles malfunction multiple times during his career.

“The mobile gates have got that problem where they jam up, It’s a problem that has been ongoing for many years,” the man, who did not want to be identified, claimed.