Update On Kurt Hughes

Published: November 16, 2008 09:53 pm EST

Horseman Kurt Hughes is hospitalized and remains in the Intensive Care Unit with a severe spinal cord injury.

Hughes is progressing well but will be hospitalized for an extended period of time. Kurt and Colleen and all the family want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. SC will keep you updated during the recovery process. As harness racing has always been a passion of Kurt's, the Hughes family especially appreciates all the support from the Standardbred community.

Hughes and his fiancee Colleen Maurer moved to Ontario from PEI in the summer of 2007. The couple married this past August, and purchased their first home near Warkworth in September.

Kurt Hughes is the son of Ken and Maureen Hughes (Poulton). The Hughes and Poulton families have been heavily involved in harness racing on Prince Edward Island, and his uncle Harry Poulton (Matts Scooter and On The Road Again) has trained horses in Ontario for a number of years. Kurt had come to Ontario with a goal of establishing himself as a trainer/driver in the province.

Hughes landed a training position with Ken Sucee, and was an integral part of the success of Arts Diva last autumn - while Sucee was hospitalized with pancreatitis for eight weeks. On the evening of his motor vehicle accident, Hughes drove the Sucee Stable's Dee Dees Ingot to a two-year-old maiden win in 2:00.1f for owner Shelby Novick (of Burning Point fame). It was the 16th win for Hughes in 2008, and the 65th in 600 lifetime drives (UDRS .236).

Kurt's fastest win time was in 1:52.2f with Dr No last August, but his most sentimental win came aboard Edgewater RB in the 2006 Wal Hennessey Memorial during Old Home Week in 1:55h.

SC will provide further updates on the condition of Kurt Hughes when available, and joins a host of participants offering prayers for complete recovery.

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