Jockey is hailed as a hero for saving her horse with an incredibly brave act that saw her get dragged around a racetrack

 

Jockey is hailed as a hero for saving her horse with an incredibly brave act that saw her get dragged around a racetrack New Zealand harness racer Crystal Hackett has been praised for an incredibly brave act after being thrown from her carriage but refusing to let go of her horse. The incident occurred at Alexandra Park in Auckland, shortly after Hackett had secured victory in Race Eight with her three-year-old gelding Buddy Guy. As they were circling the track to receive their awards, Buddy Guy suddenly got spooked by another horse and sharply veered left. Hackett was tipped from her seat but instinctively held onto the reins. Dragged nearly 100 metres across the infield, Hackett suffered a number of bruises but successfully managed to stop the horse before it could hurt itself or anyone else. “It’s just natural instinct to hold and hope for the best,” Hackett told the New Zealand Herald, reflecting on the chaos. The pair finally came to a stop near a cabled fence, with stewards stepping in to help. She calmly readjusted her carriage and drove the horse off the track to safety. Her heroic actions were widely praised by commentators and social media users alike, with many calling her "brave", "tough", and a "legend". The Trackside NZ commentator noted this wasn’t the first time she had shown such courage, referencing a similar incident earlier in the year. Hackett’s mother also voiced admiration, saying her daughter always puts the horse first.

Despite the frightening scenes, Crystal Hackett showed remarkable resilience by returning immediately to competition. After being cleared by medical staff and suffering only minor injuries, Hackett took part in Race Nine and drove Maro Mackendon to another victory just minutes after her ordeal. She later shared that the horse bolted out of fear of another horse, describing the moment as happening in "slow motion". She recalled knowing she was going to hit the ground and feeling like she was dragged for much longer than it was. Though sore and bruised the next day, Hackett took the situation in stride and was simply relieved no one, including Buddy Guy, was seriously hurt. She laughed off the pain and explained that the horse had calmed down by the time he returned to the barn. “He was unharmed—that’s the main thing,” she said. Hackett’s courage was not only recognized in the media but also at home. Her mother, Michelle Wallis, expressed deep pride, noting that Crystal’s priority is always her horse’s wellbeing. This is not the first time Hackett has faced danger on the track either. In January, she was similarly dragged during a race in Hawera, showing that her calm and focused reaction under pressure is consistent and not a one-time act. The entire incident highlights the physical and emotional demands of harness racing and the deep connection between jockey and horse. Crystal Hackett’s story is being shared widely as a testament to grit, instinct, and compassion in the world of sport.

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