Jason Maskiell on Kevin Lamprecht’s The Trooper the latest jockey to fall at Darwin Turf Club, with horse put down and Maskiell replaced by Adam Nicholls in Cup
Thoroughbred Racing NT CEO Andrew O’Toole has poured cold water on concerns surrounding the Darwin Turf Club track after yet another jockey was involved in a fall on Darwin Cup day.
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THOROUGHBRED Racing NT CEO Andrew O’Toole has poured cold water on concerns within the industry surrounding the Darwin Turf Club track after yet another jockey was involved in a fall in the race-one Harvey Norman TROBIS Handicap (1200m) on Monday.
Jason Maskiell rode Kevin Lamprecht’s The Trooper to an eighth-place finish in the 11.10am sprint race.
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Shortly after crossing the finishing line, the six-year-old “went amiss” and broke down, leading to Maskiell’s fall.
As a result, The Trooper was sadly put down
It also meant Maskiell was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital as a precaution after mentioning he had neck pains.
And it also meant ramifications for the $200,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup (2050m) at 5.30pm.
Maskiell was set to ride Kaonic for Neil Dyer.
He was replaced by Adam Nicholls.
There had been widespread concern regarding rider and horse welfare among the industry in recent weeks leading up to this latest fall at Fannie Bay.
Just last Wednesday, jockeys Wayne Davis, Alice Lindsay and Sonja Wiseman were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital after a fall in the $20,000 race three bet365 Class 2 Handicap (1100m).
Davis rode Phil Cole’s Somervell, Lindsay was on Gary Clarke’s Jomera and Wiseman rode Rodney Robb’s Supreme Times.
The NT News can reveal Jomera also had to be put down due to that fall because it ran into a fence after finishing, with Wiseman aboard.
O’Toole believes these incidents have simply been a case of bad luck at the wrong time on the Territory racing calendar.
“They’ve had nothing to do with the state of the track - it’s just one of those things that happens in racing,” he said.
“No one is to blame – we’ve just had a couple of them at the wrong time.”
O’Toole also alleviated any concerns over Maskiell’s welfare.
“Jason was able to walk to the ambulance. He got a bang to the back of his neck, so he’s gone in for an observation,” O’Toole said.
“He will be fine.
“His horse went amiss (after the finishing post) and pulled up, leading to Jason parting company with the horse.”
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