ATC apologises over ambulance bungle

Monday 11 January 2016, 1:11pm

The Australian Turf Club has apologised for the bungle which resulted in the lack of a properly licensed ambulance on course for a set of barrier trials at Warwick Farm.

Racing NSW stewards called Monday's trials off after one heat when it became apparent another vehicle could not be sourced.

"The normal on-track ambulance was there this morning but it is not licensed to transport people to hospital," chief steward Ray Murrihy said.

"The NSW Ambulance Service are the only ones who can do that.

"It is a safety issue."

The ATC said it had renegotiated its arrangement with the NSW Ambulance Service but admitted it had not consulted Racing NSW.

Under the new arrangement for 2016, a paramedic and a rapid response vehicle, or a paramedic and a transport vehicle dependant on the Service's availability of resources, were to be on course for all barrier trials.

The ATC said this had now been revised to ensure a transport vehicle was on course for all trials, including Tuesday's heats at Randwick.

ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said the club would compensate owners and trainers for the costs of the abandoned trials.

"The ATC has been in discussions with the NSW Ambulance Service for some time, and new arrangements were agreed on the understanding that these would not compromise access to immediate treatment or patient safety in any way" Pearce said.

"Unfortunately we didn't communicate and get agreement on the new arrangements as we should have, which lead to today's reaction, and we apologise for that breakdown.

"In consultation with Racing NSW, we have now put in place procedures for a NSW Ambulance Service transport vehicle to be on course at all times during trials."

The Warwick Farm trials have been rescheduled for Thursday while the Gary Portelli-trained Rebel Dane is an addition to the heat at Randwick on Tuesday featuring fellow Group One winners Boban, Press Statement and Vanbrugh.

The incident came to light on the same day as the National Jockeys Trust held a charity cricket match in Melbourne to raise funds for injured jockeys, their families and the families of those who have died.

– AAP

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