Even though driver Billy Davis, Jr. was involved in a racing accident Friday morning, it is another reinsman that will be on the sidelines for at least a couple of weeks
.
Davis was steering Bullee N in Race 2 during Flamboro Downs' Friday qualifying session when the seven-year-old gelding fell to the track at roughly the three-quarters mark.
Davis told Trot Insider that Bullee N suffered some cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious. In regard to himself, Davis said that he is a little sore and that his back and legs hurt. He did confirm to Trot Insider that he is booking off his Friday pari-mutuel drives at Flamboro, but that he is hoping to be back in the bike Saturday.
In addition to the bad fortunate for Bullee N and Davis, it has been reported that driver Jason Bartlett will miss the remainder of the 2011 season while recovering from a severely sprained right ankle.
Bartlett, who first made a name for himself in his native Maine as a standout basketball player, was on the court in a pick-up game last Wednesday (December 7) when he landed on another player's foot.
"It’s just part of the game," Bartlett said. "It's happened to everyone, and it's not the first time it's happened to me. There was bruising and swelling, and the doctors diagnosed it as a Grade 3 sprain."
After taking last Thursday night (December 8) off from his Yonkers Raceway night job, Bartlett returned the next evening with a couple of winners. He has been out of the sulky since.
"Racing was not a problem, but getting around in the paddock was a bit of an issue. It was just uncomfortable, and I'm trying to stay off the ankle as much as I can.
"I'm going to take advantage of the holiday break and get back to 100 per cent," Bartlett said. "It feels much better than it did even earlier this week. I went for an MRI, and it's nothing more serious than they first said.
"I'm looking forward to the start of 2012. There's no way I won't be there."
Bartlett, Yonkers' three-time defending driving champion, is going to finish second to George Brennan this season (680 wins to 349, through Thursday). Bartlett's complete 2011 totals are 407 wins and more than $7.6 million in purses.
(With files from Yonkers)