Horse jumps into crowd at Warrnambool

SYDNEY (AAP) - Seven people have been taken to hospital after a horse leapt over a high fence into a crowd of about 50 spectators during the Grand Annual Steeplechase at the Warrnambool carnival.
The riderless Banna Strand veered off course and jumped a two-metre-high brush fence into the crowd near Tozer Road at the back of the course proper on Thursday.
A two-year-old girl suffered a fractured collarbone and was taken to Warrnambool Hospital.
An 80-year-old woman is having shoulder and hip x-rays, and a 12-year-old girl requires x-rays on her foot.
Four people have been discharged from the hospital.
Witness Gary Wild said jockey Gavin Bedggood, who had been thrown from his mount Vindicating, was yelling out to warn people Banna Strand was running towards the fence.
"They wouldn't have seen it coming because of the height of the fence. It would have come straight through the fence at them," Mr Wild said.
"There were people running everywhere and I could hear the screaming and a horse among all the people over there."
Racing Victoria will investigate the incident, in conjunction with the Warrnambool Racing Club.
"Our primary concern is for the wellbeing of those people that were injured in this freak accident," Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said in a statement.
"Ambulances and paramedics were on hand to provide immediate assistance and transfer those requiring further attention to Warrnambool Base Hospital."
Racing Minister Denis Napthine said the safety of spectators was of paramount importance.
"I have asked Racing Victoria to report back to me on existing safety measures and any recommendations to improve spectator safety," he said in a statement.
Banna Strand was one of six horses who failed to complete the marathon 5500m course over 33 fences.
Longshot Judgment Justified fell on the first lap, bringing down Banna Strand, which lost jockey Rowan Waymouth.
Banna Strand's stablemate Petushki and Plumtastic also fell, and Vindicating and The Member lost their riders. All failed to finish.
Plumtastic was set to win the race before falling at the second last fence.
No horses or riders were injured.
The only horses to complete the course were Al Garhood, making it back-to-back Grand Annual victories, who beat Awaking Dream.
The Warrnambool carnival got off to a bad start on Tuesday when a horse was put down after falling in the first hurdle race of the day, prompting renewed calls from activists to ban jumps racing.