Thief crashes Bay trainer's truckload of racehorses

By Rachel Tiffen
Tauranga racehorse trainer Jim Pender had his truckload of five star racehorses stolen on his way to a race meeting this week - and then watched in horror as the trailer crashed and rolled.
The three and four-year-old gallopers were knocked off their hooves in the trailer - some flung to the opposite end, and some strapped to the new floor by their leads.
Muck was everywhere and the horses were in a tangled heap. One filly needed stitches to her brow and the rest of the horses were treated for bruising and minor cuts.
Mr Pender, a respected horse trainer in the Bay for 25 years, was "bloody frightened" by the incident but at the same time relieved it wasn't worse. He was on his way to a two-day race event in Gisborne.
Mr Pender had left the key in the ignition while he popped into the Opotiki diner at about 10.15am on Wednesday - something which most truckers and horse trainers did.
"As soon as you you turn the motor off the horses get anxious because they think it's time to get off."
Mr Pender's companion noticed a stranger walk past and turn back several times to stare at the truck as they headed into the diner.
The friend dismissed his concerns and headed inside. But when Mr Pender glanced outside after paying his bill, the truck was gone.
He raced out to see the truck and trailer unit careering around the corner, between the diner and the petrol station.
Two passing logging truckers averted the situation by blocking the driver into an alleyway. The man panicked - swerving the truck and trailer suddenly and tipping both on their sides.
The driver was trapped in the cabin - but Mr Pender only thought of his horses.
"I wasn't at all worried about him."
He was surprised to find the racehorses were relatively calm.
"I just kept talking to them. They were really, really quiet."
Mr Pender said it was an arduous task sorting out the trailer and getting the racers to their feet, with no leads accessible.
"I hauled them up with pieces of rope or whatever I could find. "
The truck was righted using wire ropes and Mr Pender expressed gratitude to the army of firefighters, police officers and locals who came to his aid. "They were just amazing."
Shortly after the crash Mr Pender phoned his veterinarian, who was waiting at his Oropi Rd home when he returned.
The horses were given anti-inflammatories.
Mr Pender is still counting his lucky stars that none of the horses were seriously injured and has taken one valuable lesson from the near tragedy.
He planned to get a spare key cut.
"I will keep my motor running but I will just lock it up."
The horses - Kukri Lane, Miss Panui, The Rumba, Ice with a Slice and Mr Amadeus - are eating normally and have come through light training sessions unscathed.
"This morning they had a nice quiet walk around," Mr Pender said.
He had his fingers crossed that at least two would be race-fit for a Rotorua meet next week.
Opotiki police said that a 19-year-old South Auckland youth would appear in court next week to face a number of charges.