A multiple-horse accident in the seventh race on Friday (Nov. 5) at Woodbine Mohawk Park claimed the life of pacer Witnessintheshadow and sent driver Bob McClure to hospital.
The field was approaching the half when Belina (Sylvain Filion) put in a bad step while racing first over, and the misstep led to a collision from behind when Bluemea Kiss (Nick Boyd) slammed into the back of that foe and then fell. Also involved in the collision from behind were Witnessintheshadow (Doug McNair) and State Of Mind (Bob McClure).
After unseating her driver, State Of Mind ran into the infield, and that was the safety issue that prompted the AGCO Judges to declare the race a ‘No Contest’.
Drivers Doug McNair and Bob McClure were taken off of their remaining drives. McClure was tended to by on-track medical staff and was later transported to local hospital. Reports from McClure indicate that he has a broken right arm, with a timeframe for recovery not yet established. McNair has indicated he plans to drive at Mohawk on Saturday.
According to Woodbine Communications, Witnessintheshadow was vanned off the track and was later euthanized from injuries suffered in the accident. The other two horses – State Of Mind and Bluemea Kiss – suffered no serious injuries in the accident.
Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing driver Bob McClure a speedy recovery, and please join us in offering condolences to the connections of the mare, Witnessintheshadow.