Former footballer Rhys Palmer is looking at a life ban from racetracks after throwing his shoes at runners in a race at Gloucester Park trots on Friday night.
Footage from a race showed the field making their way down the straight before getting the final lap underway when a shoe can be seen flying through the air and narrowly missing horses and riders before landing on the track.
“Unbelievably, someone has thrown a shoe onto the track,” the caller said.
“Security please grab this man.”
2008 NAB rising star winner Rhys Palmer is likely to face a life ban from racetracks after he threw his shoes onto the track during Race 6 at Gloucester Park.
Fortunately, no horses or drivers were injured. pic.twitter.com/tn8wvXkute— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) March 15, 2019
Palmer, who now plays for Swan Districts in the WAFL, was understood to be at the track with several teammates.
Vision later emerged of a shoeless man, believed to be the 30-year-old former Rising Star winner, being apprehended by security following the incident.
Post Rhys Plamer throwing shoes at the trots at Gloucester park pic.twitter.com/kLDw3s6fsh
— Callum Robson (@racrob95) March 15, 2019
Palmer won the 2008 NAB rising star and made a name for himself as a member of the Fremantle Dockers before joining the GWS Giants.
After being delisted by Carlton following the 2017 season, Palmer returned to Western Australia where he signed with the Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League.
The club struggled throughout the 2018 season finishing eighth on the ladder of nine teams and winning only six out of 18 games.
Palmer is now facing a potential life ban from racetracks after the ugly shoe throwing incident overnight.
“The first shoe just missed leaders and the second shoe landed among midfield runners,” Acting chief steward Rhys Chappell said.
“We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Winning driver Dylan Egerton-Green said it was a miracle the objects didn’t hit any of the other drivers or horses.
“It was shock to see the first shoe coming,” Egerton-Green said to the West Australian.
“The second one went between the legs of my drive.
“We were running fourth and on the outside at the time.
“It was miraculous that no horses faltered. Most of them are inexperienced pacers.”
