But in the matter of 35 minutes, Gavin Smith's Saturday went from awful to a whole lot better.
Smith was driving Gracious Star in the 4yr-old Diamond when the mare faltered shortly after the start.
The Kaiapoi driver was forced to pull her up, and multiple fractures to her right front pastern gave vets no option but to euth-anise the daughter of Real Desire.
Smith was stony-faced as he went back to the stables to get ready for his next drive on Sunny Ruby in the 3yr-old Ruby. He went out on the track with Sunny Ruby, but was not in the best frame of mind for driving.
Sunny Ruby jolted him back in to focus pretty quickly, though.
''With no race for a couple of weeks, the first 50m when we went on the track she put her head down and bolted,'' Smith said.
''We were right after that but it's pretty gutting. As they say, it's the highs and lows of racing but you hate seeing it, especially a horse like her [Gracious Star].''
Sunny Ruby has looked like a smart follower of speed - even as a 2yr-old - and Smith was feeling pretty confident as the field started to stretch out at the top of the home straight, especially after favourite Speeding Spur broke at the start and was forced to chase.
''Behind me, it sounded like the field was breaking up a wee bit and I hadn't seen Speeding Spur, so I figured it was probably between me and the two in front of me.''
The Sundon filly provided trainer Fred Fletcher - appropriately enough the former trainer of superstar sire Sundon - and co-owner Sam Smolenski with their third Jewels after Jinja Gal (2009) and Royal Aspirations (2012). Smolenski was able to take in this victory from the side-line after steering home Fletcher's two previous Jewels winners.
''It's just great to win for great friends like Sam and [wife] Maree,'' Smith said.
''I've been friends with them since I started out in the game, so I know it means a lot to them and it means a lot to me to do it for them.''
Trainers' thoughts: How the Otago-trained horses fared
Geoff Knight (Al Raza - 7th, 4yr-old Diamond) ''She's gone super - she went back at the wrong time of the race. Matt said she came to the line really strong and got held up halfway down - she's made ground so you couldn't ask for anything more.''
Ricky Allen (Starlight Starbright - 6th, 3yr-old Ruby) ''Dexter (Dunn) drove him a treat - he's not that easy to drive sometimes, especially into that first bend, so I was absolutely over the moon. He was done on the turn, but he kept trying to the line.''
Phil Williamson (Springbank Eden - 7th, 3yr-old Ruby) ''We were more than happy with his effort, considering the marble that he got. Matt (Williamson, driver) said he probably would have been a little bit closer if he had drawn the inside of the gate.
Phil Williamson (Father Christmas - 7th, 4yr-old Ruby) ''He went an OK race without being up to the elite ones. He's never had that 26 [-second] quarter in him.''
Graeme Anderson (Onedin Mach - 6th, 4yr-old Emerald) ''He missed Sky Major's back going up the back which probably cost him fourth. He pulled up phenomenal. We came with no expectations and he went great.''
Graeme Anderson (Titan Banner - 13th, 3yr-old Emerald) ''He pulled up without taking a breath. He [driver Ricky May] said they just went fast and he's still a little bit dumb.''
