A terrible accident at the last race on March 3 at Fonner Park claimed the lives of three horses and sent three riders and one rider to the hospital.
“I had never seen anything like it and always hoped I would never see it,” said Salvador Arceo, a Fonner-based athletics coach. Charlie is funny one of three horses involved in the race piled up just before the far turn.
Entering the 4-stage race, the 4-year-old boy raced a horse Call Uncle Joey tripped over the horse in front and fell down. Right behind Dial Uncle Joey is Spry Charlie and J Ps Harley Glider, who fell off his horse. Spry Charlie stood up and began running in the opposite direction down the backstretch, while JP’s Harley Glider also stood up and began running counterclockwise behind the rest of the field.
Outrider Bo Butler was able to catch Spry Charlie in the first turn but was now faced with seven horses still racing at full speed toward the rope and toward him. According to the incident report from Fonner Park, he moved Spry Charlie toward the outside rail and was able to avoid the horses still racing, but JP’s Harley Glider collided with his horse at almost maximum speed.
Spry Charlie survived the second crash but Butler’s colt and JP’s Harley Glider met their demise on the track. Dial Uncle Joey is said to have died on the track from a broken neck.
Jockeys Bryan McNeil (on J Ps Harley Glider), Ricardo Martinez (on Dial Uncle Joey), Jon Jude (on Spry Charlie) and Butler were all taken to St. McNeil suffered a fractured humerus that required treatment on March 4, and he also received treatment for a separated shoulder. Jude broke a finger and was treated and released. Martinez was also treated and released from the hospital without any broken bones and will undergo standard concussion protocol.
The injury report from Fonner Park said Butler suffered a traumatic pneumothorax (air between the lungs and chest wall) and significant bruising to the left side of his body. He will also undergo standard concussion monitoring protocol.
Arceo said he was grateful to be able to walk Spry Charlie back to the barn.
“I took him back to the barn as carefully as possible and gave him some medicine,” he said Monday. “This morning he ate a little and is moving well. I think he will be fine.
He continued: “What Bo did, jumping in to catch my horse and trying to keep everyone safe while putting himself in danger, that was a pretty brave effort that I saw.”
“It makes my stomach turn to see any horse or its rider involved in such a horrific tragedy,” Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said in a statement. “Today’s accident is a stark reminder of the ever-present dangers of horse racing. Jockeys and jockeys are carrying out their dangerous jobs, which most of the time are ended without incident. I was pleased to see the extremely quick response from everyone.” first responders. All of my staff, security and emergency medical personnel did exactly what they were trained to do.”
J Ps Harley Glider is a 4-year-old son of Sports Talk by Julie C. and a Nebraska-bred by Jessica Condon. Trained by Schuyler Condon, the gelding will debut in 2024.
Dial Uncle Joey is a son of Dial In out of Crypto, bred in Louisiana by Danny Brown. Owner/trainer Mark Hibdon took delivery of the gelding for $5,000 on February 2 from Erika Turrubiates. Dial Uncle Joey had a 1-3-3 record in 17 starts.
