After an unfortunate stretch of accidents in Ontario last week, updates on three of the fallen drivers are now available.
Last Wednesday at Flamboro Downs, Brad Forward was driving Justalittleluck and couldn't avoid fallen pacer Thats The Life. Both Forward and Anthony MacDonald, the driver of Thats The Life, were ejected from their racebikes.
On Tuesday, Forward told Trot Insider that he'll be out around three months with a broken ankle, with that time frame is dependent on how the ankle heals and responds to physical therapy.
Sidelined due to a concussion after his accident on January 12, driver Doug McNair is hoping to receive a clean bill of health this week so he can return to the race bike.
The 23-year-old reinsman and his charge, Hard To Mach, were involved in a four-horse spill in the featured ninth race on the Saturday, January 12 card of harness racing at Woodbine. The duo was unable to avoid a fallen In Commando (James MacDonald) in a chain reaction collision. Billy Davis Jr. and Rick Zeron, who were at the reins of High Def Z Tam and Anderlecht, respectively, were also unseated when they were unable to avoid the fallen horse.
McNair was taken to hospital that evening where he was first diagnosed with a broken finger, bruised ribs and a bruised calf muscle. But when he visited his doctor on Friday, January 18, it was determined he had suffered a concussion.
“My doctor told me not to race last weekend and to go see them this week and hopefully, if I have no symptoms, I’ll get the ‘clear to go,’ and look to be back Friday night,” said McNair. “I am feeling good right now. I haven’t had any symptoms the last couple of days. I can’t return until I’m 100 per cent. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone. Not myself or my fellow drivers.”
MacDonald, who broke his right ankle and also suffered torn ligaments, required surgery on January 14, which included the internal fixation of two plates and one screw. The 27-year-old will be in a cast for eight weeks after which he will undergo physiotherapy. The time frame for his return is still uncertain.
(with files from WEG)