from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Correctamundo, who set a world record last year for a 2-year-old trotting gelding on a five-eighths-mile track, was severely injured in a freak barn accident.

Owner Tom Svrcek said something spooked him and he took off running through the barn, lost his footing, fell down and while going down he reached up with his right hind shoe and severed his left front tendon.

“It was uncharacteristic for him to act like that,” wrote Svrcek in an e-mail. “He’s usually a sweetheart, but horses do odd things at times. It’s been heartbreaking for everyone that worked around him.”

Thankfully, there was a veterinarian present and he did what was necessary for him to be trailered to a hospital. Trainer Robbie Roberts took him to Brown Animal Hospital in Somerset, Pa.

“I got to the hospital 20 minutes later,” wrote Svrcek. “I was told he might not make it, so I had to call the insurance company. The insurance company gave me the go ahead to put him down, but I couldn’t do it. He’s a very special horse. I opted to have surgery on the tendon and he’s now in recovery.

“Dr. Brown and his crew were fantastic. At this point in time, he’s not out of the woods for another week or so. It’s complicated but a lot of things can still go wrong.”

Correctamundo, a son of S J’s Photo-Flo N Easy, had four wins and two seconds in seven starts last year, with earnings of $95,498. He initially set a world record of 1:56.3 for his age, sex and gait on a five-eighths-mile oval on July 19 at Harrah’s Chester, then lowered his own world record to 1:55 on August 13 at The Meadows in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race.

“They all say his chances of returning to be the horse he once was are slim to none,” added Svrcek. “If he doesn’t make it back to the track, I can live with it. But it would be such a shame.

“I was told that statistically his odds aren’t the greatest for a recovery. Frankly, I choose to not believe them. This horse has overcome so much in his past to become a champion and world record holder.

“We trained him back at Sunshine Meadows this past winter. He got bigger, stronger and was scary good and was ready to qualify. This was supposed to be his year. But instead of Correcto being a competitive 3-year-old in stake races, he’ll be rehabbing this year at Amulet.

“Hopefully, he’ll make it back.”