What a mess at Freehold

[LVGaryD]

The starting gate spun into a field of horses at Freehold in the fifth race today, wiping out the field. Only the rail horse got by the gate.

Prayers for all involved.  red rose

[Mags]

ABSOLUTELY one of the ugliest I've seen..hopes and prayers go out to all drivers and horses..unbelievable

[RocknRoll]

Wow that is just awful. Really hope all the horses and drivers come out of this alright. 

[pezz97]

So Scary. Read on Facebook all the horses were ok. Ginsburg was taken off in a stretcher, Cat, Jim P and Debra Rucker were treated.

[Unique Style]

So scary.

[dinkadoo]

Amazing that the last horse was okay

[pezz97]

New Update





Published: January 10, 2014 3:11 pm ET

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Five drivers were taken to hospitals for evaluation after the starting gate car spun out of control and collided with the horses in the first turn of Friday’s fifth race at Freehold Raceway.

Among those injured was Hall of Fame driver Cat Manzi, 63, who was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center for tests. Manzi was driving Big Sky Angelina. Manzi had only returned to action on November 29, 2013 after being sidelined with a pelvic fracture in a racing accident on September 6.

“Cat got the worst if it but was awake and sitting up before he was taken to hospital,” according to track photographer Helene Gregory. “Jimmy Pantaleano [driving Muscleslikesparty], Chris Scicluna [Brilliant Chief], Debbie Rucker [Silver Delivery], Vincent Ginsburg [Redwhitenbluestone] went to hospital also but were walking and talking. All horses walked off the track.”

According to a report on Facebook, Manzi suffered a punctured left lung and multiple rib fractures in the accident.

The horses were corralled by outrider Beth Cumberland, who was aboard her horse Jazz. Most had scrapes and cuts. One had a puncture wound. Cumberland checked them all before she left the track and said they were okay.

“It was definitely a freak mishap, something I've never seen in 40 years in racing,” Freehold’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Karen Fagliarone said. “Our main concern is always the safety of the horses and the drivers.”

“The first four races were completed without incident,” explained Freehold General Manager Howard Bruno. “We hadn’t seen anything in the prior races that gave us cause for concern leading up to the fifth race.”

The fifth race was declared a ‘No Contest’ and the remainder of the races on the card were then cancelled.

(With files from SBOANJ and Freehold Raceway)

[Headpole Dave]

That has to be the last of Cat's 9 lives....

The poor fella has been roughed up, like the tomato cans they used to feed Tyson before they made him champ.

Just a terrible scene, hope everyone is okay.

[The Giss]

Amy can verify, but we have had a couple minor sliding incidents at Nfld over the years. Really, if you stop and think about it, it is amazing, with all-weather racing and surfaces, that it does not happen more often. The drivers of these cars (generally) do a fabulous job.

[beans and weenies]

 

Amy can verify, but we have had a couple minor sliding incidents at Nfld over the years. Really, if you stop and think about it, it is amazing, with all-weather racing and surfaces, that it does not happen more often. The drivers of these cars (generally) do a fabulous job.

[AmyHollar]

Amy can verify, but we have had a couple minor sliding incidents at Nfld over the years. Really, if you stop and think about it, it is amazing, with all-weather racing and surfaces, that it does not happen more often. The drivers of these cars (generally) do a fabulous job.

Yes we have.  We've had the starter take practice runs between races and have the crew make adjustments..............but I think it's time racing commissions mandate the use of 4-w drive

[jordanjacob]

Yes we have.  We've had the starter take practice runs between races and have the crew make adjustments..............but I think it's time racing commissions mandate the use of 4-w drive

I agree, all tracks should use something like what Chester has, doubt that will ever slip with those tires

[pezz97]

New Update


Freehold Raceway General Manager Howard Bruno has said that in addition to driver Cat Manzi, Debra Rucker remains hospitalized in New Jersey after the serious accident which occurred this past Friday at Freehold Raceway.

Bruno has told the Asbury Park Press that Rucker was admitted to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and is receiving treatment “for a hematoma of the leg and a concussion.”

The article states that the other three drivers – Jim Pantaleano, Chris Scicluna, Vincent Ginsburg – that were taken to hospital have been released

As reported earlier, Manzi is at the medical centre after having suffered a punctured left lung and multiple rib fractures in the accident.