Seven sports presenter blames director for “lame horse” incident
Updated: Hamish McLachlan has blamed his director after accusations of riding a lame horse but network insists there is no animal injury.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Seven sports presenter Hamish McLachlan has blamed his OB director for having to ride a lame horse on Saturday in order to get an interview with Black Caviar jockey Luke Nolen.
Sports fans were outraged after viewing footage of McLachlan riding what appeared to be a horse in pain in order to get a post-race interview. Known as a ‘lame’ horse, ‘Snowy’ clearly had difficulty in cantering.
“I knew I was in a no-win situation,” McLachlan said. “People will think the horse was lame all day when in reality it happened only just before I drew alongside Black Caviar.
“I was distressed, you can’t imagine, my thoughts were to get off but in my ear the director was screaming for me to get in a position alongside Luke. I thought I might do the interview standing but Luke said the mare wouldn’t co-operate, she wouldn’t stand still for a second immediately after racing.”
Viewers vented their anger on Royal Randwick’s Facebook page:
-Watching that poor lame grey pony in so much pain and the rider ignoring or to stupid to know well done chanel 7 reporter everyone watched a stupid channel 7 reporter ride a very sore horse in pain.
-That was unprofessional and stupid, not to mention most u fair to Snowy… He should’ve been rested and treated immediately! What the hell is wrong with the rider for pushing him to keep up with that amazing big-striding mare in that condition? You would’ve had total respect if he’d dismounted telling everyone why! Viewed by the world… Shame
-The race certainly got publicity, and a lot of it for the wrong reason. Shame someone could not put have put their hand up, stopped the interview, and have the rider dismount. We would all be a lot more impressed.
about an hour ago
-Disgusting!
-My 15 year old daughter watched that pour horse suffering .Shame on you
-As a rider myself, that was the worst thing RR could have done, by allowing Snowy to be continued to be ridden in that state. Show us photos and a vet statement that the horse is okay.
-Where is the proof he is on the mend. Disgraceful that he continued to be ridden. You should be ashamed.
-Made me sick to my stomach to see a poor lame horse carrying an ignorant ass on its back
McLachlan said his spur-of-the moment decision to continue with the Nolen interview was partly caused by the pressure he was under from his director, he was torn between doing his job or aborting it.
McLachlan agreed his duty to his employer was uppermost in his mind, but with his live cross out of the way, he dismounted immediately to tend Snowy.
Seven spokesman Greg Smith yesterday said all was well with the horse on loan from the Australian Turf Club’s clerk of course team now “happy and healthy in his stable at Warwick Farm”.
UPDATED:
A Seven spokesperson told TV Tonight, Snowy had no injury throughout the day and only showed signs of a problem moments before the interview. He was examined by vets with McLachlan immediately afterwards but regained composure.
“Most importantly, Snowy is in great shape, looking forward to spending the rest of the week in the paddock and returning to the track next Saturday,” they said.
“Snowy is not carrying any injury and has been given the all clear by the vets.
“Hamish is one of this country’s finest horsemen.
“Apart from riding before he could walk – breeding, training and loving horses all his life – Hamish has an excellent knowledge and practical experience in caring for of all kinds of horses, for more than 35 years.
“If Snowy was in any danger, Hamish would be the first to protect him.Â
“Hamish managed a difficult situation very well – Snowy’s fitness today bears this out.”
Source: Daily Telegraph
6 Responses
@deedeedragons Adelaide Now quotes Hamish as saying that Snowy stumbled 15 seconds before the cross.
Then the site also says that as soon as the interview was over Hamish got off Snowy and Snowy was seen by a vet. Now Snowy is ok.
I really don’t understand the 7 statement. So the horse was fine all day until it was about to be on camera and once the camera was off again it was fine? Is the horse a diva? Odd to say the least.
When in doubt “dismount”
When i first saw the byline i thought what a spoiled brat Hamish was to complain about it. But since i have read further on i have cut him some slack. I think they should have waited untill the Black Caviar and the Jockey Luke Nolen had arrived at the gates where their wouldhave been an enourmous crowd their and Peter Donegan would have had the pleasure to interview him. I guess 7 wanted to get a exclusive before TVN or SKY Racing did. In all serious though i hope 7 learn from this and make sure a certified horse vet is with the horse which is used for interviews so this doesnt happen again, the OB director needs to be more realistic in the future. Overall good coverage of Racing on 7Two by 7Sport.
why was he doing the interviews in the first place. johny letts is better. 7 parade the most un talented people going around at any opportunity
Didn’t see this but it’s obvious there was a problem with the horse. But that aside the biggest problem is social media with live events, just look at what happened in the F1, as soon at Webber struck problems Yesterday and in the previous race people were jumping on websites to complain without knowing the full story. I’m guilty of this myself.
Maybe people need to take a step back and realize most of the time things are not as they appear.