Despite a catalogue of unrelated disasters, Towcester spokesman Nathan Corden restricted his meeting comment to ‘eventful’ following the first round of the TRC Health and Hygiene Blue Riband.
Notwithstanding the first round was rescheduled following the coldest winter of the year, the first upset came in the opening heat as Droopys Addition was clipped on the run to the first bend and fell over.
Much worse was to follow in the second heat where the brilliant Bockos Doomie collided with Volcanic Reef at the first bend and sustained a broken front leg.
Heat three was made void when the traps opened early. Following a discussion between connections of the six runners, lots were drawn to select the three qualifiers for Sunday’s semi final. (Night Time Hero, Desperado Rocco and Swift Lettuce were successful).
A power surge then caused a power cut knocking out the electrics.
Most importantly, the broken leg for dual Cat One winner Bockos Doomie, who is now comfortable and is spending the night in a local veterinary clinic.
Trainer Patrick Janssens, whose other two runners both won, said: “I wasn’t able to talk about it for a couple of hours. I was in tears to be quite honest. We love all our dogs but Doomie is a real personal favourite.
“The first thing I should say is, Polly the track vet, deserves a medal for how she responded. Doomie is now with a local vet who has experience with this type of injury and who Heather Dimmock recommended. He will be looked after overnight and will see the surgeon tomorrow. No expense will be spared to get him the best possible treatment.
“I could see it happening after he missed his break. He flew to the bend and is so fearless that he went for a gap that wasn’t there. I was thinking, ‘no don’t go for it’. But that is the nature of Bocko. He is such a strong minded, brave greyhound, he will never give up. At home, if he is out in the paddock, and wants to come in, he will keep barking until he gets his own way. It’s one of the things I love about him.
“I would like to add that this was a pure racing accident. It could have happened anywhere. Anybody who tries to blame the track is talking bollocks. It is, unfortunately, just one of those things that happens, very occasionally.”
Gary Wiltshire (right) and ‘The Colonel’ in the commentary positions – pic Steve Nash
Gary Wiltshire, who was commentating on the event said: “I feel so sorry for them. Everything looked great and then you get a bad injury to a top dog like that. Everyone is gutted when that happens.
“I have been there myself as an owner. It is such a shame because the track tried so hard and everything looked magnificent.
“I know some people will try to have a pop at the track, again, but even a top venue like Shelbourne Park gets serious injuries. You only have to think about Pesanta and Newinn Taylor last year.”
Promoter Kevin Boothby refused to be downbeat by a very trying day.
He said: “In terms of Ernie’s dog in the first heat. He clipped the six dog when they were on the straight. It was pure bad luck. As far as Bockos Doomie is concerned, it is very sad but a genuine racing injury. He bounced into a 38 kilo dog and it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
“If Bockos Doomie was a graded runner, he would always run from trap one. Maybe he is a candidate for a ‘rails rails’ seed.
“In terms of the traps opening early, it has never happened since we started racing last year. It was sod’s law it would happen today. And how do you make allowance for a power surge?
“But I won’t let it get me down. I thought the racing looked absolutely fantastic in HD and the track looked fantastic. We will dust ourselves off and go again.”
VOID RACE
