Offbeat Tiger snake bites fashion favourite

[mofro187]

ONE moment Megan McDonough was hot favourite to win an impromptu fashion contest at the Hamilton races in Victoria.

The next she was bitten by a venomous tiger snake and on her way to hospital.

Few things went to plan on Saturday at Hamilton.

Mid-way through the meeting, a couple of girls thought the day could do with a fashion parade.

A dozen women were plucked from the crowd of about 1800.

A group of footballers gathered to admire the contenders when one noticed a large tiger snake.

He leapt out of the way but Megan stood on the snake, which bit her on the foot then slithered down a drain pipe.

Megan's wound was wrapped in a tourniquet before she was taken to hospital.

"She kept pretty calm throughout. The shock set in a bit when the ambulance arrived," club secretary John Donnelly said.

He said Megan, who was recovering in hospital yesterday, was a legitimate winner of the fashions contest.

"She didn't get it out of sympathy, no way. She looked lovely," he said.

The meeting was further disrupted when jockeys in the fifth race refused to mount until they'd watched the Caulfield Cup on TV.

Earlier, the winner of the race three started from the wrong barrier; eight instead of four.

But stewards decided the horse did not gain an unfair advantage.