Jockeys try to stop runaway horses after being thrown off animals at Scots festival
- Rory Cassidy
- Aug 22
- 2 min read
This is the moment jockeys try to stop their runaway horses racing round a track at a Scots festival - after they were thrown off the animals.
Helpers also tried to bring the horses to a stop at the Marymass Festival in Irvine, Ayrshire, this afternoon.
The jockeys were thrown off during a race around a track at the festival, which takes place over 12 days.
But the horses kept running round the track, with frantic attempts being made to bring them to a stop.
As well as the jockeys and others trying to flag the horses down, it appeared as though one man had a whip or a leash to try and tame the horses.
After around 10 minutes of the horses running free, they were brought to a halt.
The running track cut through the two main areas of the festival, meaning revellers were kept in each area until the horses had been captured.
One onlooker said: "From where we were standing you couldn't see the jockeys being thrown off.
"The first we realised was when the horses came round the corner from the blind bend with no jockeys.
"Then a few minutes later the jockeys appeared. Both of them looked shaken up.
"One seemed to be limping and the other looked like he'd hurt his arm and his hand.
"It was pandemonium. The horses were racing round for about 10 minutes.
"It looked like they'd never stop as they were just ignoring the jockeys when they tried to flag them down.
"They were close to being struck by the horses a few times as the horses blitzed by them.
"But they managed to bring them under control eventually and then they were able to open the gates and get folk moving through the festival again.
"A huge cheer went up when they made the announcement to open the gates."
Marymass is a traditional horse festival held every August in the town.
It mixes modern with traditional, with the organisers saying the 12 days of festivities brings "something for everyone".
As well as horse racing and fireworks, there are parades, a funfair, a pram race, the iconic greasy pole competition, live jousting stunt show, a dog show, live music and food and craft stalls, as well as activities for children.
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