A full review is underway into security at racecourses after a spectator jumped onto the track during a race on Wellington Cup Day.
A man stood in the middle of the track during a race at Trentham Racecourse yesterday. Photo: Photosport
Video on social media shows the spectator jumping the fence at Trentham Racecourse on Saturday, standing still in the middle of the track as jockeys had to steer their horses around him.
There were no injuries to horses or humans.
Social media erupted - with many upset at the man's actions.
The footage has been shared and commented on thousands of times - with many saying there could have been a much worse ending to the race.
"This is a story that's made the racing press around the world" - James Dunne
James Dunne from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing said it's been splashed across media globally.
"This is a story that's made the racing press around the world because people are just gobsmacked by the stupidity of what's happened - and also it's just so uncommon to have people invade the course - it's just such an obviously unwise thing to do," he said.
Dunne said consideration would be given to beefing up security, and that the spectator would receive a lifetime ban from attending events.
"Clearly we don't want to lose the ability of the public to get close to the racecourse, to see the horses, to see the race, to enjoy the excitement of the racing," he said.
"At the same time, health and safety it comes first, it's so important and if we've got to take some more steps or consider some more options, then absolutely that's what we and the clubs will do."
The incident also led to some punters getting refunds, with the horse Boston Strongboy declared a non-starter as a result of the interference.
A 24-year-old man has been charged with criminal nuisance and will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday.
Police said no further charges were likely to be laid.
"It put 17 people's lives at risk with the stupid stunt that he pulled" - Lisa Allpress
Champion jockey Lisa Allpress told Morning Report she was relieved there were no injuries when the man walked onto the race course.
She said she had never seen anything like it in her 20 years in the saddle.
"It happened so fast and it was so shocking and so unreal seeing somebody standing down the track that I think that I actually screamed, or squealed, and then yeah it was just mind-boggling to see somebody standing there putting themselves in such harm's way."
She said there was a full track of 17 horses, each weighing in at around 500kg and running at around 50km/h.
"That's a lot of horse flesh pounding towards somebody that's standing stationery on the track."
She said trying to alter a horse's course at that speed can be catastrophic and cause the horse to fall.
"The first thing that went through my mind was 'oh my god the poor person that hits - you know I hope the jockey and the horse that hit that person are going to survive' because when you've got a field of 17 horses taking up roughly a-metre-and-a-half of space - 17 horses across the track there's not a lot of room left," she said.