You can't park there! Chaos in French race as runners swerve to avoid car on approach to fence

Drama engulfed a handicap chase at Craon in France on Monday when the runners remarkably avoided a car that had been parked in the middle of the track on the approach to a fence.

The field in the 2m4f contest, the Prix Lesieur, approached the third-last obstacle only to be met by a parked stationary car. Jockey Axel Lepage, on the clear leader J'Irai Loin, avoided it in plenty of time to the right of it.

Watch the replay of the race here

Two of the runners in behind followed him to the right, while the rest of them went to the left. Thankfully all of the runners were unharmed in the incident and were able to continue the race, which was won by the Valentin Morin-ridden Bojack Horseman.

It is not the first time a crazy incident involving a vehicle has happened in France, as two years ago two horses were hit by a van at Compiegne when cantering to the start.

One of the horses who was hit, Happyday, went on to win, while John Locke, the other horse involved, required vets assistance but continued his racing career afterwards, including winning at Pau in February 2023.

The runners in the Prix Lesieur approach an unusual obstacleCredit: At The Races

There have been other crazy incidents involving racehorses in France in the past. Here are two more. . .

October 2018

Customers were enjoying a drink in a Pari-Mutuel bar in Chantilly before they were interrupted and had to flee in panic when a loose horse burst in.

The horse's trainer, Jean-Marie Beguigne, said the horse had lost her rider at the racecourse's stables and made a run for it. Luckily, nobody was injured and the horse was unharmed.

Beguigne told the newspaper Ouest France: "Between the track and the stables, her rider fell off. The filly escaped by going on to the road, and crossing a roundabout before entering this bar. It is all quite exceptional."

July 2014

A race at country track Castera Verduzan went viral on Youtube as one of the most chaotic contests to have taken place in France. 

The Prix des Benevoles saw one of the leaders jink left to stay inside the running rail, which set off one of the other leaders so much that he bolted off the course. Three more runners followed them on the wrong path, while another two ran out on their own accord.

Sairastar, the horse that originally jinked, went on to finish first past the post, but was disqualified and placed last, with victory handed to Kitkalino.

Read more:

'They've gone two different ways!' - French farce has commentator in stitches 

'They're 25 lengths behind now!' - outsider storms to wide-margin win in bizarre Longchamp race 

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