A helmet is being thanked and praised after a driver survived a pre-race kick to the head on Friday.
Before a standing start event at New Zealand's Westport Trotting Club on Friday, trotter Louisletzfly was impatiently awaiting the start of the race and reared up for driver Brent Weaver. As the horse veered sideways, his leg connected directly with the head of driver Kevin Townley.
Townley, who ducked just before the horse made contact, somehow managed to keep his hands in the handholds and return to the upright position in his racebike while keeping full control of his horse. He told the track officials that he felt alright despite getting "a good whack" to the head from his competition.
"Glad I had a helmet on!" Townley told the stewards as they tended to the fallen horse on the track. He was checked out by paramedics and cleared to compete. Showing no ill effects, Townley guided Reign On Me to a third-place finish.
Ironically, both Louisletzfly and Reign On Me have drawn back in to race on Sunday at Reefton with Louisletzfly again to the inside of Reign On Me.
"That's the funniest bit to come out of this whole thing," Townley told New Zealand's Stuff. "I'll be watching him."
A starting gate would have
A starting gate would have prevented this absurd mishap. Westport Trotting Club should be banned from racing, for the safety of man and horse. Don't understand how they can carry on like this, where is the humane society?
Seems as if NZ needs a
Seems as if NZ needs a starting gate. How many horses were rearing-up in close proximity to each other? Definitely a different view of harness racing from my perspective. Not safe?