I hope there is an explanation and action taken

I watched in absolute horror what went on before race 4 today at Turfontain to a poor horse that did not want to go down...clearly something wrong..they f.... it up and then it fell over and I belive was shot..if thats what goes on I am getting out of horseracing.

Stipes please answer and explain what happened and if action is going to be taken against those involved..I am not the only owner to have witnessed this disgrace and trust me I am not joking about getting out of this game with cruel behaviour we all witnessed.

fucking animals

I also witnessed this horrific event. The horse was clearly not well but the jockey, who was not mounted, lashed our viciously at it with his whip. Later I heard from other punters who were closer to the action that the jockey also swore and kicked the horse before handing it over to the groom. The groom then mounted the horse but the distressed animal quickly threw him off. The horse then reared up and fell to the ground on its side with just its legs moving. After a couple of minutes the ambulance came, sheltered the horse and a shot was heard. It makes me sick to my stomach that an ailing horse was sent out to run and then experienced such an agonising death. From looking at its form, the horse was obviously no champion and shouldn’t have been racing in the first place.

name and shame

If these stories are true, its a flippin disgrace!!!
Who was the jockey & trainer?
Lets not protect idiots like this?!

Will action be taken against the relevant parties in a situation like this?

SATURNUS or RAINBOW FESTIVAL?

thats racing for you, more specifically racing in Gauteng!

Its an absolute disgrace what the people in control of racing is allowing to have happen!

Disgusting. Someone's head should be handed to him on a platter.

Oscar if you email us the stable involved,we can send an email and ask for a response

Will do Hibs..but I want to read the stipes report first..this HAS to be the most disgusting and shameful behavior ever witnessed right in front of the stands in the history of racing..if I owned that horse I swear I would not rest until my attorneys had sured the sh...t outa all resposible..I started videoing it on my phone but felt so sick I had to stop.

Good evening guys just home does not sound good

I also avidly saw this tragic incident from the Elevation room at the Big T. Not only was I intrigued by the fact that Saturnus clearly didnt want to be ridden by either jockey or groom but a similar incident occurred simultaneously with Rainbow Festival (I think it was this horse) only nearer the chute where the horses return to the stables. Although I didnt see the actual event with Rainbow Festival his jock looked as though he had been kicked and he, the jock, looked pretty distraught but fortunately standing up.

After the jock had been bucked off by Saturnus it looked as though the jock declared the horse unrideable and the grooms walked the horse out out of the race. Near the finish line Saturnus was clearly still unhappy with the event (and at this point I'm not sure if one of the grooms antagonised the horse) but the horse reared up, lost balance and fell over. To me, he looked he had died there and then and all so quickly. My take on it was that poor Saturnus had had a heart attack. Of course, the ambulance had to arrive to collect the poor animal and the crew quite rightly shielded the task of loading Saturnus' corpse. That was how I saw it.

I didnt see anyone maliciously abuse the horse nor did I see anyone arrive with the bolt to euthenaise the horse nor did I hear a shot (but then I was in the Elevation). Yes, Saturnus clearly looked like he didnt want to be ridden but the horse was withdrawn anyway. I think to suggest that there was anything malicious (ignorant or deliberate) from the connections would be very unfair. How many other horses do we see who perceivedly dont want to be ridden? It was all a sad and tragic incident.