Police have arrested and charged a man with criminal nuisance, after a spectator ran onto the race track during Wellington Cup Day yesterday.
Video on social media shows a man jumping the fence at Upper Hutt's Trentham Racecourse, and standing still in the middle of the track as jockeys had to steer their horses around him.
There were no injuries, but racing broadcaster Aidan Rodley called the spectator an idiot, who is lucky to be alive.
Police said a 24-year-old man was arrested, and has been charged with criminal nuisance for doing an act endangering public safety.
A horse also died at the racecourse during the event's feature race, and an animal welfare group said it was disturbing to see the horse's death go underreported, while the racecourse invasion garnered wider attention.
Frances Baker from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses said Rock on Wood was euthanised after suffering a fracture while racing.
She said horse racing legalised cruelty to animals, and horses often died on the racetrack because they were pushed too hard for the sake of gambling profits.
The man who ran onto the track has been released on bail, and is due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday.
