Schnittker, 'Dewey' Get In Accident

Ray Schnittker was involved in an accident on a Pennsylvania highway Wednesday morning while en route to Kentucky with the Hambletonian-winning Deweycheatumnhowe.

Alan Leavitt, president of Walnut Hall Ltd. and syndicate manager, said both horseman and horse emerged unscathed. Schnittker’s wife, Dr. Janet Durso, suffered a separated shoulder and was treated at a local hospital and released.

Leavitt said the accident happened at around 10:00 a.m. near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and was caused when the truck and trailer Schnittker was driving from his farm in Goshen, New York hit an icy patch on the road, causing it to collide with a second vehicle.

Following the accident, 'Dewey' was taken by another truck and trailer to Vieux Carre Farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the trotter was examined by Dr. John Egloff and pronounced healthy.

“Dr. Egloff said that it was a miracle that the horse was not hurt in any way,” said Leavitt. “And thank goodness for Ray and Janet as from what Ray said it was very fortunate that he was not hurt and Janet suffered only a shoulder injury and is already on her way home to Goshen.”

According to Leavitt, Schnittker plans to resume his journey to Lexington, Kentucky on Thursday, hoping to arrive at Walnut Hall Ltd. in late afternoon.

(With files from Walnut Hall Ltd.)