Racegoers were given a fright at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when a spooked horse crashed through a fence into a grassed section of the members' area.

With jockey Peter Wells aboard, Price War reared in the parade ring before stumbling over the fence, narrowly avoiding punters.

Wells leapt from the saddle during the incident and did well to hang onto the reins and keep the horse away from racegoers.

"Luckily no patrons were injured. It could have been worse," chief steward Ray Murrihy said.

Murrihy said Price War, which has raced 18 times, has no history of becoming agitated before a race.

The four-year-old mare was uninjured in the incident.