by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Veteran reinsmen Del Chupp and Casey Leonard were both injured in a nasty spill that took place just after the start of the second race of Maywood Park’s Thursday (March 31) card.

As of 10:15 p.m. (CDT) the 33-year-old Leonard, who hails from Harvard, Ill., and the 46-year-old Chupp, who resides in Beecher, Ill., had both been taken via ambulance to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital with both complaining of neck, shoulder, back and arm pain.

No other information was available at this time because of hospital privacy regulations.

The incident occurred right after the start of the second race as Chupp’s drive, Nachoordinarygirl, appeared to make a nasty break leaving the gate from post position eight. That caused the 3-year-old filly to veer sharply to her left and directly into the path of Leonard and his horse, Bonnies Baby Girl.

Both horses and drivers tumbled hard to the ground but the remainder of the field was not affected by the incident.