Jack Flanigen, currently the dash-leading driver at Batavia Downs this season, suffered a concussion on Wednesday, September 29 when the horse he was sitting behind, Annabelle Jo, went down heading into the clubhouse turn. Flanigen was thrown to the ground.
“I’m not really sure what happened,” the 44-year-old reinsman said. “I sent her out of there and she just collapsed and we went down.”
Flanigen was transported to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia where he received stitches for a facial cut.
Flanigen missed the entire 2008 Batavia racing season when he suffered a concussion on the second-to-last night of racing at Buffalo Raceway.
Early reports have Flanigen being sidelined for at least a week.
“We wish Jack well,” Mike Kane, the track's vice president of live racing, said. “Not only is he a top driver, but he’s also a great guy.”
Racing will resume at Batavia on Friday, October 1. The first of the 12 races will get underway at 6:40 p.m.
(With files from Batavia)