Harness racing driver Nathan Jack has spoken of a terrifying race against time after a tyre blowout turned into a fully-engulfed truck fire as he transported horses to Saturday night’s (Jan 31) Cranbourne Cup meeting.

Jack was travelling on the Hume Highway near Kilmore with four horses aboard when a rear tyre blew out on his horse truck.

Expecting a routine tyre change, the situation escalated dramatically when the tyre ignited – and within minutes the rubber-lined truck was engulfed in flames.

“It’s something I don’t want to have to deal with ever again, that’s for sure,” Jack said.

With thick black smoke billowing and flames rapidly spreading, Jack, his team and passing motorists swung into action, unloading the horses onto the roadside in a desperate bid to save them.

“There were bystanders who’d never held a horse in their life walking them down the highway.  People just came out of nowhere to help – it was incredible.”

Remarkably, no one was injured and all four horses escaped unharmed – Jack said they were grazing calmly beside the highway just moments later after being led several hundred metres away from the dramatic scene.

Among them was Kingman, one of three superstars billed to clash in the $150,000 Decron Cranbourne Cup alongside champions Leap To Fame and Swayzee.

Despite the terrifying ordeal and the total loss of his truck, Jack and his team regrouped, with Kingman later producing an extraordinary performance – finishing a narrow second to Leap To Fame in what many hailed as a race for the ages.

Good Samaritans swung into action, helping at the scene and, in true equine community spirit, the team soon had several horse trucks and large floats arrive.

Jack had two horses engaged in early events on the program, and made it on time thanks in part to a remarkable act of sportsmanship from leading owner Mick Boots, who had been travelling in a vehicle behind Jack at the time of the incident.

Despite having his own horse competing against Jack’s, Boots jumped in to offer a neighbouring gallops trainer Barry Malanczyn $1000 to drive his truck to Cranbourne with the horses.

“Mick didn’t even own any of the horses, he is an absolute gentleman and was just trying to help us out,” Jack said.

“Our two fillies were his main competition, but that didn’t matter.

“The truck owner, Barry just said ‘don’t worry about the money, take my truck and bring it back tomorrow’. We dropped it back to him today, and we paid the tolls, but he wouldn’t take anything.”

Fire crews arrived around 15 minutes later, but by then the fire had taken hold of the truck.

“It was engulfed in probably five or six minutes,” Jack said.

“We had a fire extinguisher, so we used that, but it was just a waste of time, it didn’t do everything, because obviously burning rubber is hard to put out, it doesn’t flame – it just pours out black smoke,” he said.

“We got the horses off first, then we got the gear off, and then there’s things in the truck that we’re trying to save, like in the underneath dog box. I was tapping at it and undid the handle and I’m about to get stuff out of it and next minute the tyre explodes right next to me. It was a massive bang.

“We lost some things, obviously, but, it could have been so much worse. We’re just so grateful to everyone who helped at the time – it was incredible.”

While some gear was salvaged, the truck was a total loss. Jack said the overwhelming support in the aftermath had meant as much as the help on the day.

“The phone calls and text messages afterwards really meant a lot,” he said.

“It was a massive team effort – and what matters most is that everyone, including the horses, walked away.”

Kingman’s owner Mick Harvey said he was still in awe that no one was injured.

“It was so serious.  Luke (trainer-driver Luke McCarthy, who was travelling with Nathan) said it was almost catastrophic.  The tyre blew…smoke was coming from the wheel and then instantly flames appeared and spread.  They got the carts off quickly, praying the hydraulic system was still working, otherwise the horses would have been trapped.

“Huge appreciation for Nathan and Luke for their quick-thinking and courageous action, saving not only themselves, but the lives of the four horses. They spent an hour on the Hume Highway, with Luke handling Kingman and walking two kilometres down the highway to get away from the fire and smoke.

“To see them all hold it together and compete only hours later is unbelievable.  I am so grateful. I can’t believe Kingman ran that well after the ordeal.  Leap to Fame – just a bloody champion – what a race!”

LEAP TO FAME 31 JAN REPLAY

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink