Sad incident at Catterick

[NoChanceToDance]

From Racing Post......

Deserted Dane dies in stalls at Catterick


Tom O'Ryan


DESERTED DANE, a dual-winning sprinter, died in the stalls in a bizarre incident at Catterick on Wednesday.

The four-year-old, trained by Alan Swinbank, was drawn in stall two in the eight-runner 5f handicap. A fraction before the starter pressed the button, he launched himself at the top of the front gates and then crumpled into heap before dying within seconds.

“I think he must have hit the top bar of the stalls with his head,” said David Hancock, the starter.

Jockey, Tom Eaves, who was lucky to escape injury himself, tended to agree with Hancock's view.

“He took off at the gates just before they opened and the way he fell back, I think he must have broken his neck,” said the jockey.

Eaves, who was standing-in for originally booked Robert Winston, who was sidelined with a throat infection, was walking a little feelingly afterwards. “I've just got a bit of a dead leg, but otherwise I'm all right. I was lucky.”

Bookmakers Stan James, Bet Direct, Skybet and Blue Square all said they would refund stakes on Deserted Dane.