By Adam Pengilly
Two horses have been rescued after escaping from a horse racing promotion along Surfers Paradise beach and crossing tram lines and the busy Gold Coast Highway on Tuesday morning.
The Magic Millions extravaganza, where horses are ridden along the sand, went wrong when the horses became loose and took off into traffic and residential areas.
A group of about 10 people including a clerk of the course, as well as on-site police, then gave chase trying to capture the horses, but only managed to do so after onlookers said both horses travelled for more than a kilometre up the Gold Coast Highway.
A Queensland Police spokesperson said both horses were unharmed in the incident and floats were being arranged to transport them back home.
The Magic Millions carnival has long held a public event where patrons line the sand and watch top jockeys and celebrities such as royal Zara Tindall and rugby league legend Billy Slater hold mock races on the famous strip.
The incident came in the last of three scheduled gallops down the beach with Sydney-based group 1-winning jockey Rachel King one of the riders thrown from a horse. The other was Delfina Blaquier, the wife of Argentinian polo player and Magic Millions ambassador Nacho Figueras.
Organisers had metal barricades stretching several hundred metres down the beach to keep patrons away from the horses, who escaped beyond the fences at one end.
Horses on the beach for the Magic Millions promotion before Tuesday’s barrier draw.Credit:Luke Marsden
Video taken by beachside residents shows the horses taking off into an adjacent street after coming within metres of people walking along the esplanade.
Asked about the mishap before his own celebrity dash, Slater said: “I did see it. I’m very glad to see they’re all right.”
The Magic Millions sale will begin later on Tuesday before the rich raceday on Saturday.
More to come
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
