Horses dodge cars after escaping from one of ‘Australia’s richest race days’

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    Horses had to be rescued after escaping and bolting out onto the highway as one of Australia's richest race days descended into utter chaos.

    The annual Magic Millions Carnival along the sands of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast is one of the most iconic events on the Aussie racing calendar.

    Ambassador Zara Tindall and husband Mike – who returned Down Under after his stint in the I'm a Celebrity jungle – are among the famous names in attendance at the £6.2million showpiece.

    But Tuesday's events were overshadowed by the shock incident as hundreds of onlookers were left stunned by two rider-less horses leaving the beach.

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    As the run commenced, the horses appeared to be spooked by the surging waves and galloped off into the residential areas as panic ensued.

    The thoroughbreds trotted up residential roads and crossed tram lines before making their way onto the highway, travelling against the busy traffic flow.

    The horses travelled for more than a kilometre in a 20 minute period, running loose before they were eventually recaptured by racing officials, who quickly set off in pursuit in buggies

    The incident was reported by local news networks, who claim the two horses were named Larry and Julio. Nearby residents filmed the escapade and could be heard shouting "this is not good" in the footage.

    It was later confirmed by local Queensland Police that neither horse was injured during the escapade and they were transported back to their stables by horsebox.

    “A Magical Millions statement read: "Two horses left the Surfers Paradise beach enclosure today after the beach run.

    “Horses were returned almost immediately safe and unharmed. All horses have been vet checked and the jockeys involved were unharmed, but checked a precaution.”

    It was the second worrying incident involving horses escaping on the Gold Coast in three days after one horse broke through a fence at a racecourse and ended up in a canal.

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