Starting gate
May 23rd 2008 07:00
Last year there was pandemonium when the short priced Caulfield Cup favourite Maldivian gashed his neck (on a contentious piece of television equipment lodged between stalls) when he grew fractious and reared up in the barrier stalls. Blood poured from the wound and with the horse bleeding and agitated there was no option other than to scratch him. Almost simultaneously the second favourite Eskimo Queen had thrown herself under the stalls, became stuck and was also subsequently scratched. Some horses panic even more when wedged and will try to escape at any cost, often injuring themselves greatly in the process. And some horses will just accept the situation and wait for help and release. Luckily Eskimo Queen waited quietly for assistance after the initial panic.
(Getty Image: Mark Dadswell)
Modern barrier stalls (the transportable starting machine) were imported into Australia from the United States and first used here in 1946 (not introduced into the United Kingdom until very late, 1965). Overnight the replication of a fair start for each race gave greater confidence to punters who were forever dismayed at having no equal (or fair) chance at winning when a horse was left at the post behind a strand barrier. Sometimes behind a strand barrier horses would be moving in the other direction, if not standing flatfooted, when the field was released. Seldom was there an even start.
Many horse become claustrophobic when placed within the tight metal confines of a barrier stall. If not unhappy with the lack of room, many horses soon become frightened by the banging and clattering as the barriers creak and squeak with the push and shove of horse, jockey and barrier attendant. Many horses hate the contact of metal on their flanks and the barrier blanket is used to drape them and placate until time for release. The blanket is tied to the back of the stalls and the horse slips free as it jumps and the blanket stays behind.
The barrier stall is really just a transition point of energy. The horses are excited and bouncing balls of energy, ready to unleash all of the dynamic power they possess into running as fast as they can. Then they are gathered and placed in tight confines and barred from most movement. All they want is to be released. If not aware and careful it is a recipe for disaster.
The worst possible scenario is a horse dropping its head (like Eskimo Queen). If a horse rears up it usually goes down again without major damage (okay, let's not dwell on the stupidity of placing tv equipment with sharp edges next to a Caulfield Cup favourite). But if a horse drops its head and goes down there is no return. It follows that the horse will try to burrow and will usually become cast under the gates. The thrashing that may follow can injure both the cast horse or those on either side (interesting to note that the horses drawn either side of Eskimo Queen in the Caulfield Cup were winner Master O'Reilly, and runner-up Douro Valley).
Jockeys often get hurt when they contact the roof or sides of the barrier stall as a horse rears, but the worst possible situation (for jockey also) is a horse dropping to the ground. Steven King missed last Spring after a barrier accident when his mount in a minor race at Seymour tried to anticipate the start but only succeeded in jumping forward and down and wedging King's leg against the barrier, resulting in a spiral fracture (broken in six places) that required the insertion of plates to help it stabilise.
The horse that was responsible for Steven King's broken leg is Hargitay who has since won two races and is racing at Moonee Valley on the 24th of May. Steven King has not ridden him since that day.
Most jockeys and barrier attendants believe fillies and mares the most unpredictable in barriers. The colts and geldings will (mostly) respond to yelling and restraint and stand and settle, but the females are prone to flip straight over or try to dive under the stalls.
New Zealand use an 'open top' barrier stall that has many admirers. It does overcome much of the problem of claustrophobia, but a drawback for jockeys is the lack of overhead structure to grab on to should a horse slip or try to dive beneath the gates.
Maldivian withdrawn from 2007 Caulfield Cup
(Getty Image: Mark Dadswell)
Modern barrier stalls (the transportable starting machine) were imported into Australia from the United States and first used here in 1946 (not introduced into the United Kingdom until very late, 1965). Overnight the replication of a fair start for each race gave greater confidence to punters who were forever dismayed at having no equal (or fair) chance at winning when a horse was left at the post behind a strand barrier. Sometimes behind a strand barrier horses would be moving in the other direction, if not standing flatfooted, when the field was released. Seldom was there an even start.
Many horse become claustrophobic when placed within the tight metal confines of a barrier stall. If not unhappy with the lack of room, many horses soon become frightened by the banging and clattering as the barriers creak and squeak with the push and shove of horse, jockey and barrier attendant. Many horses hate the contact of metal on their flanks and the barrier blanket is used to drape them and placate until time for release. The blanket is tied to the back of the stalls and the horse slips free as it jumps and the blanket stays behind.
The barrier stall is really just a transition point of energy. The horses are excited and bouncing balls of energy, ready to unleash all of the dynamic power they possess into running as fast as they can. Then they are gathered and placed in tight confines and barred from most movement. All they want is to be released. If not aware and careful it is a recipe for disaster.
The worst possible scenario is a horse dropping its head (like Eskimo Queen). If a horse rears up it usually goes down again without major damage (okay, let's not dwell on the stupidity of placing tv equipment with sharp edges next to a Caulfield Cup favourite). But if a horse drops its head and goes down there is no return. It follows that the horse will try to burrow and will usually become cast under the gates. The thrashing that may follow can injure both the cast horse or those on either side (interesting to note that the horses drawn either side of Eskimo Queen in the Caulfield Cup were winner Master O'Reilly, and runner-up Douro Valley).
Jockeys often get hurt when they contact the roof or sides of the barrier stall as a horse rears, but the worst possible situation (for jockey also) is a horse dropping to the ground. Steven King missed last Spring after a barrier accident when his mount in a minor race at Seymour tried to anticipate the start but only succeeded in jumping forward and down and wedging King's leg against the barrier, resulting in a spiral fracture (broken in six places) that required the insertion of plates to help it stabilise.
The horse that was responsible for Steven King's broken leg is Hargitay who has since won two races and is racing at Moonee Valley on the 24th of May. Steven King has not ridden him since that day.
Most jockeys and barrier attendants believe fillies and mares the most unpredictable in barriers. The colts and geldings will (mostly) respond to yelling and restraint and stand and settle, but the females are prone to flip straight over or try to dive under the stalls.
New Zealand use an 'open top' barrier stall that has many admirers. It does overcome much of the problem of claustrophobia, but a drawback for jockeys is the lack of overhead structure to grab on to should a horse slip or try to dive beneath the gates.
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