"This was no trip and fall. He just fell, as if somebody had pulled a leg from underneath him."
Those are the words of driver Bruce Aldrich Jr., who on Monday, June 3 was involved in a multi-horse accident at Monticello Raceway in New York State.
As a report by the Times Herald-Record explains, Aldrich (who was driving Rose Run Ivan) was two horses behind Getthemoney when the 11-year-old gelding quickly fell to the track. The incident set off a chain reaction that dumped seven of the eight drivers in the race, which was declared a 'no-content.'
The report states that the horses involved only suffered minor injuries. Some of the drivers, on the other hand, were not quite as lucky.
Aldrich stated that his X-rays came back negative for his sore hip and right pelvis, but, according to the report, Jimmy Marohn Sr. (who was driving Getthemoney) suffered a head injury, while Brad Clouser (driving Dances With Dogs) hurt his neck. Both are reported to be at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. The article goes on to state that Mike Forte (driving Fair Lady J), suffered possible broken ribs and a broken wrist.
"Nobody had any chance to react," Aldrich was quoted as saying. "It was such a split-second thing that I didn't even have a chance to pull my reins to get the horse out of the way."
(With files from the Times Herald-Record)