by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Here’s a further update regarding driver Matt Kakaley, who was injured in an accident during Yonkers Raceway’s 10th race Tuesday night (March 13).

The update was provided by driver Mark MacDonald at the request of Kakaley’s girlfriend, Annie Larrabee.

Kakaley, driving Lawgiver Hanover, and Jim Marohn Jr., driving Big Jer, were at the rear of the field moving into the third turn of the $15,000 pacing event. Lawgiver Hanover took a bad step, went down and threw Kakaley. Big Jer, who may have briefly gone down, unseated Marohn and ran off.

Kakaley, who turns 30 this coming Monday (March 19), was originally taken to Lawrence Hospital in nearby Bronxville, N.Y., then subsequently moved north to Westchester Medical Center (Valhalla, N.Y.), where facial plastic surgery was performed.

MacDonald — who visited Kakaley Thursday afternoon — said, “Considering what he went through, he was in very good spirits, laughing and joking.”

It was MacDonald’s understanding that Kakaley is to be discharged from Westchester Medical sooner rather than later, returning sometime next week to have more work performed on his collarbone.

“I don’t know if it’s the best-case scenario, but it seems to be close,” MacDonald said. “The doctors see no reason he won’t recover and get back driving, maybe within five or six weeks.”

Does Kakaley have any recollection of the accident?

“Not much,” MacDonald said.

Lawgiver Hanover was euthanized. The 9-year-old son of Art Major had won 28 of 202 career starts with earnings of $623,179.

Marohn and Big Jer both escaped injury, the former taking his final two scheduled Tuesday drives and with a full complement of Yonkers’ Thursday assignments.

Further updates shall be provided as available.

Kakaley has won 4,169 races and more than $61.1 million in purses in a career that began in 2006.