Racing Accident At Century Downs

An accident marred Sunday afternoon's (April 17) harness racing card at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

The accident took place in the eighth race as Rs Kazza Nova, driven by Dave Kelly, was racing first over into the final turn when the pacer got rough-gaited. Pass The Port was caught behind second over and fell, unseating driver Brandon Campbell. Attack Modes Billy, beginning a three-wide rally for Ed Hensley, and Justabitcrazy, in rein to Ryan Grundy, were also taken out of the race with those drivers tossed from their sulkies.

Officials from Century Downs have reported to Trot Insider that Hensley was transported to hospital with possible cracked or broken ribs. Grundy was also transported to hospital with a possible broken bone in the eye area.

Trot Insider has learned that five-year-old pacer Pass The Port had to be put down due to a knee injury. The Freedoms Pass-Newport Beauty gelding was a seven-time career winner with over $85,000 in earnings for owner, breeder and trainer Sam Johnson.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Pass The Port, and in wishing the drivers and horses involved a full and speedy recovery.

Earlier on the program, the featured $5,000 eliminations of the Prairie Boys Stakes for three and four-year-old male pacers were contested with Counter Strike and Big Magick earning victories in their respective events.

The 1-5 favoured Counter Strike and trainer/driver Travis Cullen advanced from third at the half and went on to score in 1:55.2 by a length and three-quarters over Man Of Many Arts (Phil Giesbrecht), who had tracked the winner's move. Cullen shares ownership of the four-year-old Camystic gelding, who notched his seventh win in a row, with Jerry Hagenaars of Hafford, Sask. Flamingbluestar (Brandon Campbell), early leader Tripper (J.F. Gagner) and Trustee (Bill Tainsh Jr.) completed the top five finish order. The win was one of four on the day for Cullen.

Driven by Travis Bowman, Big Magick overcame a post eight start as he fired to the front and cleared breaker Outlaw Goodnready before rebuffing a third quarter challenge by runner-up Mach It Big (Rene Goulet) en route to a three and three-quarter length triumph in 1:56.4. The four-year-old homebred Mister Big gelding is owned by trainer Vernon and Earla Sifert and Insight Strategies, all of Aldergrove, B.C. Appellate (Keith Clark), the 3-5 favourite, finished third, with Outlaw This Is It (Mike Hennessy) and Pocket Novel (Jamie Gray) earning the final paycheques.

The $25,000 final of the stakes event, for Alberta-owned, sired or foaled non-winners of $20,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2015, will be held next weekend along with the Prairie Girls division.

In other Sunday racing news, the win streak of Balinska Hanover continued as the four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare earned her fifth straight victory for Ed and Ashleigh Hensley in the opener. Meanwhile, Cullen and Keith Hannah's 11-year-old Raleigh Fingers gelding Raging Fingers reached a career milestone, earning his 50th win.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.