SENIOR racing officials have paid tribute to the efforts made by all at Killarney Racecourse on Tuesday evening to complete the day’s racecard after a 90-minute delay while injured jockey Ana O’Brien was attended to.

The accident happened just before 6.20pm and racing was suspended until the air ambulance, which arrived at 7.45pm, had departed.

Incredibly the final race, due off at 8.50pm, got underway shortly after 9pm.

Denis Egan, Turf Club chief executive, said: “Racing was delayed by 90 minutes as a result of the accident and it took a huge effort on everyone’s part to see the rest of the races run off successfully. A lot of people deserve huge credit, particularly Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Dr Ciara O’Carroll and the Order of Malta and everyone else involved for the way that Ana O’Brien was cared for in very difficult circumstances. Everyone was remarkable.

“It must have been an unprecedented achievement to run five races as quickly as they did. Val O’Connell [clerk of the course], Peter Matthews [stewards’ secretary] and Hugh Hynes [clerk of the scales] in particular did outstanding work and the trainers, jockeys, stable staff and the staff of Killarney Racecourse were amazing. I would also like to thank the public who were so understanding. It was a real team effort.”

CREDIT

Val O’Connell added: “Overall it was a combination of everyone pulling their weight and doing what they could to get the races run off in time. Credit must go to the stewards for allowing one of the flat races to be started by flag instead of stalls.

“Once the final flat race was over, the horses for the next were in the parade ring and the jockeys were ready to go out. I think there was an 11-minute turnaround between the end of one race and the start of the next.”

O’Connell said the option to cancel the rest of the races was never seriously considered: “It was a bright evening and the light stayed with us. Of course our main concern all the while was for Ana O’Brien.”

Tuesday’s incident was by far the most serious in what was an eventful four-day Killarney Festival.

On the same night a drone was spotted flying in the parade ring area and reportedly struck a racehorse. Egan said: “A German racegoer was operating the drone and he landed it when asked to do so. Drones are not allowed on the racecourse and we would never give permission.”

Killarney was again in the headlines on Thursday when one race was declared void due to an unfair start (see page A32-33).

Roger Brookhouse, owner of first past the post Stars Over The Sea, has lodged an appeal against the stewards’ decision.

There was also a lengthy running and riding enquiry on Thursday evening involving Philip Rothwell and Danny Mullins but the stewards issued no sanctions.

The Wednesday night fixture was not without incident either as trainer Peter Fahey had a runner withdrawn by order of the stewards when veterinary officials expressed concern over a “venous puncture” on the horse’s neck.

Fahey told the stewards the filly can sweat very freely and, in his absence, was administered a double dose of Duphalytes the previous evening by a veterinary surgeon.

The stewards ordered the withdrawal of the filly and requested that samples be taken for analysis.