Lakendrick Goss' current nickname is 'Red,' but after the events which took place yesterday at Thunder Ridge, he may consider changing it to
Spiderman. Goss' actions just may have saved a horse, himself, and others from getting seriously injured or worse.
As a field of eight lined up behind the Walt Reins starting gate, halfway through the turn Goss' horse, Mac Holiday Gift, broke the left line. Still behind the gate, Goss yelled, "Broke line! Broke line! I got a broken line!" With much confusion and banging around, horses and drivers began scattering to get out of the way.
Goss ended up on the outside rail with his horse running out of control. They made one lap as horsemen helped keep Goss and his horse on the track by standing at the draw gates. But as the two were making the second lap, Goss knew the horse would not pass up the next draw gate.
And what happened next, is just simply amazing.
Goss leaped from the sulky to the horse's back, grabbed the overcheck, and brought his mount to a complete stop.
"I knew 'Holiday' was going to go out the draw gate the next time around," Goss explained. "I didn't have much time to think about it. I also knew that one of my wheels would hang on the fence post and I could see myself getting thrown way up in the air. I didn't want to do that. I didn't want myself, the horse, or anyone else to get hurt."
Goss was asked how he made the climb from cart to horse and what he grabbed onto that brought him to a stop. "I just put one hand on the shaft, put my feet on the seat, and jumped up on his back," he said. "Then I grabbed onto his overcheck and pulled back hard. Then he (the horse) slowed right down like I wanted him to."
Goss was still pretty shook up back at the barn, but he was able to crack a smile as one of his friends called him "Spiderman."
Even the real Spiderman would have had to use his wall crawling powers during the runaway incident, but not Goss, he made it look easy.
On Thursday at Thunder Ridge, Lakendrick Goss was the hero.
(Terry Cullipher, kyharnessracing.com)
ross curran was driving a
ross curran was driving a horse at either greenwood or garden city,a line broke during a race,he jumped onto the horses back, was called the "COWBOY"from that day on.
I remember Duncan MacTavish
I remember Duncan MacTavish jumping on a horse called Rod Hanover in the 60's at Greenwood Raceway in Toronto.
Great job Goss.Just another
Great job Goss.Just another reminder of how things can go very wrong in this sport.Great instinct.
I remember quite a few years
I remember quite a few years ago at the Owen Sound track we were racing a horse called Mr Brat and the line came out of the bit and Ed MacDonald had to jump on his back to stop him. That was an experience I am glad never happened again.
I remember Garth Gordon
I remember Garth Gordon doing that at Greenwood or Mohawk and he was in tight quarters along the rail with horses all around him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
About 50 years ago, I
About 50 years ago, I witnessed the same thing at Richelieu Park. One of the Turcottes (Theo Sr., Theo Jr. or Ron) had to jump up on a horse's back in order to control him after one of the reins broke.