A New Zealand horse racing star has been hailed for her bravery after she was tipped out of her carriage during a harness race at Alexandra Park but did not let go of the reins in a bid to stop her horse from harming himself.
The incident took place on Friday night, with Crystal Hackett having just sealed victory in Race Eight alongside three-year-old gelding Buddy Guy at the Auckland-based track.
After finishing the race, the Hackett and Buddy Guy had been making their way back around the track to the winner’s enclosure. It was here that the young gelding became spooked and bolted to the left, tipping the 21-year-old horsewoman out of her seat.
Buddy Guy then began to pick up speed and dashed his way across the infield area at Alexandra Park, with Hackett refusing to let go of the reins.
The three-year-old dragged Hackett nearly 100m into the middle of the infield, with the South Auckland horse rider suffering a couple of bumps and bruises along the way.
It was a courageous act from Hackett, who held on in a bid to slow her horse down and prevent Buddy Guy from sustaining an injury or harming anyone else on the track.
A New Zealand horse racing star has been hailed for an incredible feat of bravery
Crystall Hackett was thrown from her carriage by her horse Buddy Guy but bravely did not let go of the reins
‘I know how bad it could’ve gone if I had let go,’ Hackett told the New Zealand Herald.
‘But at the same time, it’s just natural instinct to hold and just hope for the best – hope that I can stop the horse. It worked out last night, but it doesn’t always.’
Eventually, the pair came to a halt in the middle of the infield, with Buddy Guy stopping before a cabled fence. Two stewards then arrived to calm the horse, with Hackett readjusting her carriage before getting back on board and driving the horse off the track.
‘Have a look at how brave she is, this is not the first time she’s done this,’ one commentator on Trackside NZ said when reviewing the footage.
Several social media users took to X to lump praise on Hackett, with one writing: ‘Awesome effort, gutsy, brave, tough.’
Another added: Absolutely could have been disastrous. Well done to all controlling the situation. Crystal is a legend.’
Despite feeling a little stiff the following morning, the horse rider laughed off her injuries, pleased in the knowledge that no one, including Buddy Guy, was seriously hurt.
‘I’ve definitely got a few sore spots – a few bruises have come up quick last night – and I was pretty stiff this morning. But the more the day has gone on I’ve been a bit better,’ she laughed.
She said Buddy Guy became spooked by another horse after the pair were returning to the winner’s enclosure
Hackett then revealed that the horse went back to the barn where she said he had settled: ‘He was unharmed that’s the main thing’
Hackett was cleared by medics to drive in the next race, and she got back to where she left off driving Maro Mackendon to victory in Race Nine.
Hackett later revealed that Buddy Guy had suddenly become scared of another horse, which prompted him to bolt off the track.
‘The start of it happened in quite slow motion. But when I initially got tipped out, I knew I was going to hit the ground,’ she said to the New Zealand Herald, recounting the incident.
‘And when I was getting dragged, I thought: “Oh, this could go on for a while”. It did feel like I was getting dragged for 10 minutes, but it was only about 20 seconds.’
Hackett then revealed that the horse went back to the barn where she said he had settled: ‘He was unharmed that’s the main thing.’
Her mother Michelle Wallis has also spoken of her admiration for her daughter’s courage and selflessness, telling the outlet: ‘The horse always comes first for her.’
It is not the first time Hackett has been dragged along the ground by her mount during a race meeting, with the Kiwi star being dragged during a race at Hawera in January.
