It wasn't the start to the new Fraser Downs meet that anyone had hoped for, and certainly not Rick White. Just one week into the new meet, B.C.'s 2014 Horseperson of the Year was forced to the sidelines with serious injuries sustained from a racing accident.
The accident occurred during the first leg of the Mary Murphy Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, the seventh race on Oct. 8 at Fraser Downs.
The 59-year-old Surrey horseman suffered four broken ribs and a collapsed lung from the accident, which led to an eight-day stay in the hospital and a recovery period that could extend into the New Year.
"I've been home, I guess, 10 days," White told Trot Insider on Wednesday evening. "I just went back to the hospital for a check up and they said my lung is good now so take it easy for a few months I guess. That's all I can do until my ribs heal up. They said it's going to be anywhere from two to four months before I can jog again."
The accident occurred when the leading filly in the race broke stride down the backstretch and caused a chain reaction of interference while White and his filly, Shes All That, were advancing first over.
"A horse made a break and then the horse beside him sort of jumped out into my horse then my horse made a break and fell," recalled White. "Then another horse went over top of me. After that, that's about all I remember.
"I just remember my horse making a break and then the other horse hitting me in the back. I don't remember much then until I was in the hospital, but I guess I was on the track for half or three-quarters of an hour."
To say it's been a rough start for White to the Fraser meet is an understatement. The veteran horseman also happened to be involved in an accident driving his two-year-old filly Charabby the week prior on opening day, although he came away with only bumps and scrapes from that Oct. 1 incident after trying to avoid another horse that fell coming off the final turn and was flipped out of the sulky.
"That's been more accidents than I've been in 30 years," said White, who has driven 2,166 winners in his career.
Fortunately, Shes All That and Charabby were not seriously injured in their respective incidents and both have since returned to the races.
"[Shes All That] got a couple cuts on her knee, but it's pretty well healed up now," said White.
As for the rest of White's stable, his wife Janet has stepped in to help look after the horses and they have hired extra assistance in his absence. White's brother Glenn has also been helping out in the mornings and driving his horses on race day. White said he is thankful for all of their help and to everyone who has reached out in concern through calls and emails.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by racehorse owner John Evanson to assist White and his family with racing, personal and medical expenses.
Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing White a full and speedy recovery.
(Photo courtesy David James)