Tragedy struck the southern Ontario harness racing industry on Sunday evening (June 2), as an auto accident which involved horses that were shipping to race claimed the lives of a pair of Standardbreds.

The collision occurred in rural Milton, a few kilometres north of Woodbine Mohawk Park, at roughly 5:30 p.m. The horses in question were shipping to compete at Georgian Downs in Innisfil for the track’s eighth race of the evening.

According to police, the horses were being transported northbound on Guelph Line when the vehicle and trailer were ‘t-boned’ by a westbound vehicle at the intersection of Guelph Line and 25 Sideroad. After the initial accident, the trailer was then struck by a southbound vehicle, which was also towing a horse trailer, which was empty.

The Milton Canadian Champion has reported that the horses were the only individuals that sustained serious injury. The article states that the racehorses were ejected from the trailer.

The horses that lost their lives in the accident were four-year-old Mach Three mare Keep Focused, who was owned by Mike Saftic (of Campbellville, Ont.) and Edward Gorc (Sudbury, Ont.), and the four-year-old Perfect Union mare Perfect Glory, who was owned by Sylvain Lacaille (St. Paul De Joliette, Que.).

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Keep Focused and Perfect Glory.