New Jersey Racing Commission Executive Director Frank Zanzuccki and Freehold Raceway General Manager Howard Bruno have commented on investigations by both entities into the January 10 accident, which sent multiple drivers to hospital.

Zanzuccki has told the Asbury Park Press that “There is an investigation being conducted and our purpose is to try to determine what caused this,” adding that the NJRC is “engaged in the process of gathering all of the facts.”

The APP report has quoted Bruno as saying that the track is also conducting its own investigation into the incident.

“Regarding the January 10 starting gate incident, we have been conducting an investigation and continue to seek out additional information,” Bruno was quoted as saying. “Additionally, the New Jersey Racing Commission is conducting an investigation and we are cooperating fully with any requests.”

Horses involved in the January 10 accident were lucky to escape major injury when Freehold’s starting gate car veered out of control as it headed into the first turn over the sloppy track. The car veered directly into the path of the field of horses. As a result, multiple drivers were taken to hospital.

Track officials and New Jersey-based horsemen met for 90 minutes on Wednesday, January 15 to discuss the scary incident that occurred last Friday in an effort to ensure something of that nature never happens again.

On Friday, January 17, Bruno released a statement on behalf of Freehold Raceway, which explained that track officials and local horsepeople are working together to ensure a similar incident does not take place in the future. Part of Bruno’s statement said that he pledged at the meeting that the track “would continue to work with the SBOA and we will look at possible outside experts to review our track and maintenance procedures with an eye for continued improvement.”

(With files from the Asbury Park Press)