‘serious obstruction’ Four riders have been injured in a fall during a horse race at Te Rapa, sparking panic in the racing world about the seriousness of professional track safety
The world of professional horse racing was left reeling this weekend following a harrowing multi-horse fall at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton, New Zealand, which sent four jockeys to the hospital and ignited urgent debates over track safety protocols. The incident, occurring during Race 4 on Saturday, July 26, 2025, has been described by witnesses and officials as one of the most graphic and chaotic in recent memory, prompting calls for immediate reviews of racing conditions and horse management practices.
The race in question was the Rich Hill Mile, a competitive sprint over 1600 meters drawing a field of seasoned thoroughbreds and promising apprentices. As the pack thundered down the back straight, disaster struck when Ribkraka, ridden by experienced jockey Opie Bosson, veered sharply inward, causing a catastrophic chain reaction. Illuminated Miss, under the guidance of apprentice Ashlee Strawbridge, clipped the heels of Ribkraka and somersaulted to the turf, bringing down I Park with its rider, the young sensation Ace Lawson-Carroll. In the ensuing melee, Gracetheace, piloted by Rihaan Goyaram, was upended, while Gina Rosa lurched violently, unseating Hayley Hassman in a tangle of limbs and equine fury.
Spectators and fellow competitors watched in stunned silence as the four horses involved—Ribkraka, Illuminated Miss, I Park, and Gracetheace—scrambled to their feet amid the debris of the fall. Remarkably, the animals appeared to escape with only superficial injuries: scrapes, bruises, and minor abrasions that veterinarians on site quickly assessed as non-life-threatening. Gina Rosa, though severely hampered, managed to continue but was later eased up. Ortega, under jockey Robbie Hamill, stormed to victory in a race that will be remembered more for its tragedy than its triumph.
The human toll, however, was far more severe. All four jockeys—Strawbridge, Goyaram, Hassman, and Lawson-Carroll—were conscious but in evident pain as they were stretchered from the track and transported by ambulance to Waikato Hospital. Initial reports from paramedics indicated a range of injuries, from concussions and fractures to soft tissue damage, though details were withheld pending full medical evaluations. By Sunday evening, updates began to emerge, painting a picture of resilience amid recovery.
Ace Lawson-Carroll, the 19-year-old apprentice who has been the breakout star of the 2025 season with 51 winners including his first at Listed level, emerged as the most critically affected. He underwent emergency surgery on Saturday night for internal injuries sustained when his mount crashed atop him, and medical staff confirmed he would require additional procedures in the coming weeks. “Ace is a fighter,” said his trainer, Tony Pike, in a statement released through Loveracing.NZ. “He’s stable and in good spirits, but this is a setback that no one saw coming. We’re all praying for a full recovery.”
The other three riders fared slightly better. Ashlee Strawbridge, 22, was treated for a fractured collarbone and mild concussion, and was discharged Monday morning with instructions for rest and physiotherapy. Rihaan Goyaram, a South African import making waves in Kiwi racing, suffered whiplash and bruising to his ribs but was reported as “sore but smiling” in a social media post from his family. Hayley Hassman, the veteran of the group at 28, escaped with a sprained wrist and abrasions, allowing her a quicker return to light duties.
In the immediate aftermath, the stewards’ inquiry was swift and decisive. Ribkraka was disqualified from its second-place finish for causing “serious interference,” a rare but pointed ruling that underscored the gravity of the mishap. Jockey Opie Bosson, while cleared of intent, was fined and docked his riding fee, with the panel noting a momentary lapse in control. The meeting was delayed by one race to facilitate the riders’ evacuation, a procedural hiccup that only amplified the day’s tension.
Beyond the paddock, the fall has unleashed a torrent of concern across the global racing community. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) chief executive Murray Bell convened an emergency review panel on Monday, vowing to scrutinize everything from track maintenance to starting gate protocols. Te Rapa, known for its forgiving turf and state-of-the-art facilities, has long been hailed as a benchmark for safety in the Southern Hemisphere. Yet, this incident—occurring at near-full gallop on a surface with ample cushioning—has exposed vulnerabilities that even the best-laid plans can’t always mitigate.
“It’s a wake-up call,” said former jockey and safety advocate Lisa Cropp, speaking to NZ Herald. “We’ve invested millions in softer tracks, better helmets, and vet checks, but when four horses go down at once, it’s a reminder that this sport is inherently dangerous. We need to look harder at pre-race assessments for behavioral issues in horses like Ribkraka, who has a history of edginess.” Data from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities supports her point: falls account for over 60 percent of jockey injuries worldwide, with multi-horse pile-ups like this one amplifying risks exponentially.
Industry voices echoed the alarm. In Australia, Racing Victoria’s safety officer tweeted solidarity, referencing similar scares at Randwick earlier this year. Across the Tasman, the British Horseracing Authority announced it would share its latest collision-avoidance research with NZTR. Punters, too, felt the ripple effects; betting pools on the Rich Hill Mile were frozen pending the inquiry, and attendance at Te Rapa’s next fixture dipped by 15 percent as fans grappled with the sport’s precarious edge.
For the jockeys’ inner circle, the emotional scars may linger longest. Lawson-Carroll’s mentor, champion jockey James McDonald, visited the hospital bedside, later telling media, “These kids put their lives on the line for our passion. Ace was on the cusp of something special—this can’t be how the story pauses.” Strawbridge’s family issued a heartfelt thank-you to the St John Ambulance crew, crediting their rapid response for averting worse outcomes.
As the sun sets on another week in the racing calendar, Te Rapa’s stewards have pledged enhanced monitoring for upcoming meets, including mandatory warm-up gallops and AI-assisted gait analysis for entrants. Whether these measures will soothe the panic remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the ‘serious obstruction’ at Te Rapa has etched itself into the annals of the turf, a stark reminder that behind every thundering hoofbeat lies a fragile thread of human endeavor.
In the days ahead, eyes will turn to Waikato Hospital for positive updates, and to the boardrooms where change is forged. For now, the racing world holds its breath, united in hope that safety innovations can outpace the perils of the track. The horses will run again, the crowds will cheer, but the echoes of that fateful fall demand we run smarter, safer, and with unyielding vigilance.
