An accident early during Century Downs’ program of live racing on Sunday (June 9) sent one driver to the hospital.
The two-horse accident occurred in Race 1, a $6,200 conditioned contest for non-winners of four races, and involved drivers Dan Leblonc and James Jungquist.
Leblonc was aboard Cooltobeamach and Jungquist was at the lines of HF Thegreatpumpkin. Both of the horses suffered interference in the stretch. Cooltobeamach was charted as having been in an accident, while HF Thegreatpumpkin was charted as fallen.
Neither of the horses finished the race, but Trot Insider has been informed by a track official that both of the horses appeared to be fine.
Jungquist was able to walk off the track and participate in the next race, but the same could not be said for Leblonc, who was transported to local hospital with cuts and potential head injuries. Leblonc received stitches and was diagnosed with a bad concussion, but was released from hospital Sunday night. Jungquist has reported that he has a bit of a sore knee and back, but is otherwise fine.
Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing everyone involved in the accident a speedy and complete recovery.
Two of the program’s featured races followed shortly thereafter, as a pair of $7,500 eliminations for the Brad Gunn Stakes for three-year-old male pacers went postward.
The first of the elims (Race 3) saw the Kelly Hoerdt-trained and driven Kneedeep N Custard convert a Post 3 start into a two-length victory in 1:54.2. The win, which was of the wire-to-wire variety, saw Rockin N Talkin and Outlawgrabbingears finished second and third, respectively. Kelly Hoerdt (of Beaumont, Alta.) co-owns the Custard The Dragon gelding along with Blair Corbeil (Beaumont, Alta.) and Fred Gilbert (Brandon, Man.).
The second of the elims (Race 4) saw the Rod Starkewski-trained and Phil Giesbrecht-driven Crackle N Burn turn a second-over trip into a three-quarters of one length win in 1:54.4. Just A Start finished second, while Go Nine O was third under the wire. Crackle N Burn, who is a gelded son of Blue Burner, is owned by Rod Starkewski (Lamont, Alta.)
Century’s $9,000 Open Handicap Pace went postward for Race 6, and it was the Nathan Sobey-trained and driven Icy Blue Scooter that raced a determined first-up through the back half and got up for a neck victory over Cool Cowboy (Mike Hennessy) in 1:52.1. Sabine Pass (Paul Davies) finished third. Icy Blue Scooter, who is a six-year-old gelded son of Blue Burner, is owned by Nathan Sobey (Sturgeon County, Alta.) along with Diane Bertrand (Edmonton, Alta.) and Robert Gilhespy (Edmonton, AB).
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Century, click the following link: Sunday Results – Century Downs.