The search is on in New Zealand for a patron at Trentham on Saturday that could have caused carnage after standing in the middle of the straight during the eighth race.

The man, who was slammed by racing lovers throughout the world on social media, almost caused a major scene as jockeys frantically moved their horses out of his line as he stood motionless in the middle of the track less than 100 metres from the finish.

He then raised his arms in triumph as he somehow was not run over by the 17 horses in the Benchmark 65 race over 1600 metres. The race was won by $16 chance Ruby Rocks.

The act overshadowed the premier meeting in New Zealand's capital of Wellington which saw Melody Belle equal Sunline's Group 1 record with her 13th elite level success one race earlier in the Harcourts Thorndon Mile.

It's the second time within months that a person has inadvertedly walked into the path of oncoming horses on a New Zealand racetrack.

A golfer playing on a 'pitch and putt' course misdirected his shot and walked onto the steeplechase course during the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie last October.

The golfer played his shot and was leaving without realising the horses were galloping in his direction until taking evasive action 50 metres before the pack converged.

 Racing.com