Runaway Racehorse Brocklesby Bill Found by Dog Walker After Chaotic Three-Mile Gallop from Salisbury Racecourse
Salisbury – A race day debut turned into a wild cross-country adventure on Wednesday when two-year-old racehorse Brocklesby Bill threw his jockey, leaped a fence at Salisbury racecourse, and led staff on a chaotic three-mile chase through farmland and woods before being safely found by an unsuspecting dog walker.
The dramatic scenes unfolded just moments before the 2:42 PM contest, when the 25-1 outsider unseated jockey Ben Ffrench Davis. Instead of being caught, the loose gelding took matters into his own hooves, jumping over the course fencing and vanishing into a patch of thick brambles, much to the disbelief of onlookers and those watching on live television.
Racing TV cameras captured the ensuing chase, even showing one man’s valiant but futile attempt to intercept the rogue horse in a ‘pincer movement’. Brocklesby Bill easily evaded the effort and continued his gallop through nearby farmland and into the woods, leaving the racecourse far behind.
The unexpected adventure finally came to an end three miles from the track, when a local dog walker managed to find the runaway. Trainer Kathy Turner confirmed the horse was unharmed.
"He’s all good now, but he went nearly three miles before he ended up on a footpath and a dog walker caught him", she said. Turner praised the quick response of her son, Ben, and the course veterinarian. "Ben was the first one down to try to catch him", she added. "The vet, Martin Peaty, was brilliant. He clambered through the brambles and hedges with my son".
The debut held a deep personal significance for the Turner family. The gelding is named in honour of Kathy’s late father, the legendary trainer Bill Turner, who passed away in August at the age of 78. Bill Turner was renowned for his success with young horses, winning the prestigious Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster a record six times.
Brocklesby Bill’s great escape is a dramatic reminder of the unpredictable nature of horse racing. It is not the first time a thoroughbred has made a break for freedom; late last year, a horse in Scotland galloped down a main road near Musselburgh before being caught after calmly stopping at a set of traffic lights.
The dramatic scenes unfolded just moments before the 2:42 PM contest, when the 25-1 outsider unseated jockey Ben Ffrench Davis. Instead of being caught, the loose gelding took matters into his own hooves, jumping over the course fencing and vanishing into a patch of thick brambles, much to the disbelief of onlookers and those watching on live television.
Racing TV cameras captured the ensuing chase, even showing one man’s valiant but futile attempt to intercept the rogue horse in a ‘pincer movement’. Brocklesby Bill easily evaded the effort and continued his gallop through nearby farmland and into the woods, leaving the racecourse far behind.
The unexpected adventure finally came to an end three miles from the track, when a local dog walker managed to find the runaway. Trainer Kathy Turner confirmed the horse was unharmed.
"He’s all good now, but he went nearly three miles before he ended up on a footpath and a dog walker caught him", she said. Turner praised the quick response of her son, Ben, and the course veterinarian. "Ben was the first one down to try to catch him", she added. "The vet, Martin Peaty, was brilliant. He clambered through the brambles and hedges with my son".
The debut held a deep personal significance for the Turner family. The gelding is named in honour of Kathy’s late father, the legendary trainer Bill Turner, who passed away in August at the age of 78. Bill Turner was renowned for his success with young horses, winning the prestigious Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster a record six times.
Brocklesby Bill’s great escape is a dramatic reminder of the unpredictable nature of horse racing. It is not the first time a thoroughbred has made a break for freedom; late last year, a horse in Scotland galloped down a main road near Musselburgh before being caught after calmly stopping at a set of traffic lights.
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