Perth Cup: Race forced to halt as multiple horses involved in horror fall

A horse died and two jockeys had lucky escapes in an horrific fall which forced stewards to stop the Perth Cup mid-race for what is believed to be the first time since it was first run in 1887.

More than 11,000 punters were stunned to silence after the fall, which occurred just 200m after the start of the race and saw gallopers Chili Is Hot and Dom To Shoot tumble to the turf.

Chili Is Hot had to be put down at the track while Dom To Shoot sustained abrasions and was slightly lame in the off-foreleg.

Camera Icon The beginning of the horse fall. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS

The field tumbled over stricken jockeys Peter Knuckey and Troy Turner, but both riders were quickly cleared of any serious injury.

Turner walked back through the mounting enclosure with a bloodied nose.

Camera Icon The fall. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS

RWWA chief steward Brad Lewis told The West Australian it was hoped an inquiry into the fall would be conducted on Monday morning.

It appeared Chili Is Hot fell after clipping the heels of Buster Bash, ridden by Joe Azzopardi, right in front of the Tentland party area. Dom To Shoot was then left with no hope of avoiding the fallen horse.

Camera Icon The fall. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS

“This is always one of the hardest events for anyone involved with racing to deal with,” Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said.

“The welfare of jockeys and horses is always the top priority. Our thoughts are with all those connected with Chili Is Hot.”

Camera Icon Crowds at the Perth Cup before the horse fall in the feature race. Credit: Matt Jelonek/The West Australian

RWWA on Sunday night confirmed the Cup will now be re-run on January 15.

After the fall, race officials acted quickly to head around the back of the track to try and pull up the field, with Chili Is Hot lying motionless in the middle of the main straight. Jockeys got the message with about 900m to run and started to stop their mounts as quickly as possible.

The clerk-of-course captured the runaway Dom To Shoot soon after.

“The crowd went from a mighty roar to utter disbelief,” race broadcaster Darren McAullay said as the dust began to settle after the race. “It’s one of the most bizarre feelings I’ve had in 43 years of calling.”

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The 2023 Perth Cup was called a no-race after two horses and their jockeys were involved in an horrific fall just 200m into the iconic race.

The 2023 Perth Cup was called a no-race after two horses and their jockeys were involved in an horrific fall just 200m into the iconic race.

One punter at Perth Racing Club said the crowd was numb after the incident.

“It’s just solemn, no-one knows what to do,” he said.

“The crowd’s in shock, it’s just awful.”

Jockeys, owners, trainers and officials shook their heads and stared in similar disbelief as they gathered in the Ascot mounting enclosure in the minutes following the fall. It triggered memories of a spectacular six-horse fall in the 2008 Cup won by champion jockey Damien Oliver and Cat’s Fun.