PUNTERS were left stunned by a crazy end to a race – which saw the leading jockey get sent flying off his mount and brutally faceplant the dirt.
The mad scenes happened at Canterbury Park racecourse in the US and involved big 5-4 favourite Well Read.
Jockey Alex Canchari looked to be in control as he moved clear on the short-priced runner.
But as he drew out his whip, his mount took evasive action and jinked sharply to the left.
Well Read bumped into a rival at full speed but worse was to come for Canchari.
Footage showed him being sent flying off his horse, just as the pair looked like they were about to burst through to the line.
Canchari – who was up and OK after the incident – was unceremoniously dumped to the dirt as Well Read carried on running.
Then, as if things couldn’t get even more bizarre, the contest was won by a rank 62-1 outsider.
Shattered Dreams absolutely hosed up from the outside to claim the £13,400 first-place prize last Wednesday night.
Second place went to 12-1 Izzy In A Tizzy – the horse who Well Read collided with in the home straight.
Recalling the action, racecourse announcer Paul Allen said: “Holy c**p! Horse and rider got out of it okay.
“@ACanchariJockey walked off on his own. A serendipitous Shattered Dreams won.”
One punter wrote: “What the heck happened? Glad jockey and horse are OK.”
Another said: “Holy cow indeed!”
A similarly eye-catching incident occurred at Clonmel this week, again involving a horse who looked nailed on to win.
Karakhan, the 2-1 favourite, was in pole position approaching the final hurdle but veered sharply left and crashed head-first through the wing.
The dramatic scenes showed the barrier shatter into pieces as all jockey Shane Mulcahy could do was follow the horse through.
Fortunately, again, both were OK following the final-flight carnage.
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