An accident involving multiple horses in the 14th race marred Northfield Park's Saturday night (Jan. 1) card of harness racing.
The accident occurred when Official Kisser (Kurt Sugg), who was among the early leavers from the inside post, broke stride while racing into the first turn, causing interference to the trailing horses. Badlilvelocity (Aaron Merriman) and One Fine Andi (Ryan Stahl) were following immediately behind, with the former going down in the spill and the latter losing her driver.
Wild Nite Tina (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and With Wings (Chris Lems), who were racing in the two and three-path at the time of the incident, avoided the breaker and proceeded to complete the race despite the presence of the starting gate on track at the site of the incident with several drivers reported to be unseated and horses running loose. The pair raced wide as they approached that turn the second time around and later just missed an oncoming loose horse in the stretch as the outrider caught that mare.
The race was declared a 'No Contest.'
The track announcer reported Merriman was up on his feet shortly after the accident while Stahl remained seated. According to the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association (OHHA), Stahl has been hospitalized as a result of the accident.
An update on the horses and drivers involved in the accident was not immediately available from Northfield Park officials.
The following 15th and final race of the evening was cancelled.
Update: Early Sunday evening, OHHA shared an update that stated Ryan Stahl remains in hospital receiving care for injuries he sustained to his ribs and lung. OHHA also reported that three horses did not survive the accident.
Drivers Aaron Merriman and Eric Tharps and outrider Nadine Habke were cleared to return to action.
OHHA stated that "discussions have commenced with the Racing Commission on safety protocol review, improvements to the current warning light system, racing official’s communication, and driver post-accident treatment and release protocol going forward."
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of the horses that were lost in the tragic accident and wishing the drivers and horses that were injured a full and speedy recovery.