A MEMBER of racecourse ground staff was run over by charging horses at the start of a race at Carlisle on Thursday.
The race got underway at 5.05 pm but it was immediately apparent something had gone wrong as the horses set off before the man in question had safely run across to the other side.
It appeared that he had fixed the starting tape in place but he turned back across the track and only made it a few yards before the Mike Smith-trained Euchan Falls took him out and left him in a heap on the floor.
Sky Sports and the clerk of the course, Harry Phipps, have since confirmed the man - who got up and walked away following the incident - is OK.
On-course stewards immediately called an inquiry and an official report said: "An inquiry was held to consider the circumstances as to why a member of groundstaff had crossed the track at the start as the race was started, resulting in him being knocked over by Euchan Falls.
"The clerk of the course, the member of ground staff, the starters, and Gavin Sheehan, the rider of Euchan Falls, were interviewed."
The incident has been reported to racing chiefs at the British Horseracing Authority and an investigation will be launched.
But horse racing fans were still distraught that the unsafe incident had been allowed to take place.
And they took to social media to give their thoughts.
One said: "FFS! That is appalling."
Another added: "What on earth was that start all about at Carlisle?
"Poor bloke #Carlisle."
A third replied: "Bloody hell."
A fourth responded: "I hope he’s okay ."
While a fifth said: "Poor fella doesn't look a youngster either, that gotta hurt."
