Sydney harness racing driver Ben Woodsford came away with a broken wrist and Maitland reinsman Peter Hedges a badly bruised back in a frightening fall at Newcastle International Paceway on Saturday night.
Woodsford and Hedges were in John Hunter Hospital overnight after they were among four drivers dislodged in an accident at the winning post approaching the final lap of race eight.
The race was abandoned after Morisset driver Mark Callaghan was tipped out when Yourblueyescrying galloped, causing a chain reaction. Woodsford (Dirty Blues), Hedges (Witherspoon) and young Sydney driver Katie McGill (Celebrity Look) were all flung out.
McGill and Callaghan were checked by paramedics at the track and only Woodsford and Hedges were taken by ambulance to hospital. Newcastle Harness Racing Club chief Tony Drew said McGill had a head knock but was cleared to go home. Drew believed all horses escaped serious injury.
Hedges said on Sunday morning that he was awaiting precautionary scans but it was believed he had only severe bruising to his lower back from when he landed awkwardly on the track.
He said Woodsford had a broken wrist but all drivers involved were lucky to escape more serious injury.
“I was the last one to fall, and I trying to ride it out but then my filly got hit by another horse that was loose, and it flicked my gig up,” Hedges said. “I got flung into the track sideways and all my weight landed on my back.”
Remarkably, Callaghan recovered to win the next race with Royal Gamble and secure a winning treble as a driver and double as trainer.
He earlier steered Lethal Star and Mitch Kosklin’s Elect To Go to victory on the 10-race program.
Callaghan was also the Hunter’s best at Menangle on Saturday night, taking second with Lovin Miss Daisy in the C1-C2 Country Series Final behind Miss Rodriguez.
By Craig Kerry
Reprinted with permission of The Newcastle Herald