During the fourth race at Bangor Raceway, now also called Hollywood Slots and Raceway, on June 5th, 2009, Elm Grove Beech, a 5 year old standardbred gelding, fell in the stretch run with driver Stephen Mahar in the bike. Elm Grove Beech was lying in the one path and the horse behind could not avoid him and the wheel of the bike ran over his neck or head. From my vantage point on the rail, it was hard to tell.
Stephen Mahar, who landed in the infield, jumped to his feet immediately and attended to his horse. After a few minutes, Elm Grove Beech was on his feet and led off the track. I don’t know if he suffered any serious injuries, but just seeing him back on his feet and walking was amazing.
To his credit, Stephen Mahar assisted his horse and then raced in the next race and finished racing his mounts for the rest of the card including a second place finish with Rodeo Du Ruisseau in the 8th race.
You can’t help but admire such resilient athletes, both the two legged and four legged kind.
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