Kirkpatrick Injured In Windsor Spill
Trot Insider has learned that driver Bill Kirkpatrick suffered multiple injuries when he was thrown from his sulky in the eighth race at Windsor Raceway on Sunday
evening.
The incident took place right as the field was making its way to the quarter pole. Kirkpatrick, who was driving Smokeys Luck, left the gate and tucked into the five-hole. Mid-way through the turn a problem arose with the jawbreaker on his horse, leaving him with no control of the right line.
Smokeys Luck drifted inside the pylons and continued to veer towards the infield. Right at the quarter pole, Kirkpatrick’s left sulky wheel struck a teletimer pole and as a result he was catapulted to the track. The pacer stayed on his feet and continued to gallop in the safety lane while the remainder of the race was contested.
“Initial news is that Kirkpatrick had a broken arm and facial lacerations,” said Marty Adler, track announcer at Windsor Raceway. “After reviewing the tape, he landed pretty hard on his face and arm. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had more injuries. He has just returned to the sulky following a year layoff with a back injury.”
Adler also indicated Smokeys Luck was uninjured in the mishap.
Standardbred Canada will post additional details on Kirkpatrick’s condition when details become available.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.
If there was any decency,
If there was any decency, dignity, and fairness in harness racing(there isn't), immediately upon Kirpatricks horse wandering loose on the track the judges would/should be required to announce a termination of the race to avoid injury and or death to the horses or the drivers. So why does this not happen. Ah you are ahead of me now. Another dirty little "secret" in harness racing is the pressure on the judges to avoid refunds at all costs(the so called fair start pole another sickening example of this). It is ironic that the red herring of abusive whipping(it rarely happens)is ballyhooed as something being changed when worse things(far worse) such as last nights failure to immediately stop the racing goes on!