Brown Out Two To Three Months

Hall Of Fame Driver Doug Brown will be out of the race bike for the next few months as a result of a racing accident at Kawartha Downs on Saturday night

.

Hot As Ice, with Brown in the bike, made a break in the stretch from first over and went down. He was hit in his lower back by Dunum Up Right's knee during the accident which fractured his fourth vertebrae.

Trot Insider caught up with Brown on Wednesday afternoon, and the Hall of Famer reported that he sustained no additional injuries in the accident aside from a few bruises.

Brown is hopeful that his back will be suitable for a much publicized relocation to Florida later this year.

"I was planning on going to Florida the end of October," confirmed Brown."I have to go back the the doctors in two months, and hopefully I'll be OK."

The plan right now is for Brown to take down his three two-year-olds, a few racehorses as well as some yearlings.

"We've thought about wintering in Florida for many years now," said Brown in April. "Leading me to this decision was a combination of things. Things have slowed down for me in Ontario and the weather in Florida, well you just can't beat it for racing or for developing young horses. In Ontario you miss quite a few days training each winter but in Florida you don't. I'm anxious to find out for myself if what everyone here says is true, that Florida is better for the horses and the people."

Among the notable horses developed by Brown are millionaires Dr No and Invitro.

"Over the past seven years when catch-driving slowed down I've really enjoyed having a hand in developing young horses," Brown added. "So far I've only had one that didn't get to the races."

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Doug Brown a full and speedy recovery.