Stag man's streak to the line frightens the horses

As the rest of the pack caught him, the streaker threw himself forward in one last effort to claim the honours in the last race at the Bateman's Bay track in southern New South Wales, Australia.

• VIDEO: how a streaker frightened the horses

He landed flat on his face, but most of the other horses had already shot by.

And while he and his mates, who had accompanied him to the races on a stag party outing, thought it was all very funny, the jockeys, stewards and punters were furious. The race had to be scrapped because jockeys said the sudden appearance of the un-named man had caused a major interference.

Jockey Tracy O'Hara said she was almost sent crashing to the turf when her horse, Morcombe, took fright at the sudden appearance of the naked man.

"I was well ahead and just 100 metres from the post, but when that stupid man appeared Morcombe slammed into the inside running rail and we lost out," she said.

Steward Craig Yeo said: "This is the first time I've heard of a streaker causing a race to be cancelled."

Police said yesterday that a 31-year-old man from Canberra was arrested at the track and will face court in Bateman's Bay next month charged with offensive conduct. He is also expected to be charged with entering a prohibited area.

The streaker's antics upset the locals so much that when he and his mates returned to the town that night they were told by publicans that they were no longer welcome.