by Susan Wilson, for Lebanon Raceway

Lebanon, OH — The past week of racing at Lebanon was marred by two consecutive accidents.

On Thursday (March 15) in the last race of the night, as the horses turned into the stretch, the leader of the pack, Civil War, who was driven by Dan Noble, had his buxton break and he dropped to his knees, causing him to trip and causing a chain reaction, five horse pile-up.

Driver Terry Hall was taken to the hospital, where he remains, with a concussion, broken pelvis and multiple broken ribs. The other drivers involved in the accident were Jeff Nisonger, Trent Tharps, Jr., and Tyler Shehan. These drivers and all of the horses walked away from the accident with bruises and scrapes.

Friday night’s (March 16) first race was the first leg for the filly and mare $3,000 claimer late closer. As the field of six rounded the last turn, Iza Can Can, who was sitting third for driver Jeremy Smith, dropped to the ground with an apparent broken leg. Two of the three trailing horses went down with the third unseating her driver; she was quickly caught by outrider Cindy Johnson.

Iza Can Can had to be euthanized for her injuries. Drivers Roy Wilson and Jeremy Smith were both taken to the hospital. Both were treated and released. The other drivers involved in the accident were Jeff Fout and Dan Noble. They both were fine and drove the remainder of the program.

The raced involving the accidents were declared no contests.

The feature trot of the week was raced on Friday night. Fox Avenue Mark was able to put a head in front at the wire for driver Jeff Nisonger to get his third win in a row and fourth of the year. Fox Avenue Mark trotted his mile in 2:03.1, equaling his lifetime mark.

His lifetime mark was established in his first win of this hat trick. He also trotted his mile in 2:03.1 last week as he picked up his second win of this trio.

Fox Avenue Mark is trained by Mark Gillenwater, who is also the co-owner with Stanley Schomaker.

The feature pace for fillies and mares, also on Friday night, was won by Indy Dawn and driver Tyler Shehan in 1:58.3. This was Indy Dawn’s first win of the year for owner Richard Todd, Jr.

Saturday night’s (March 17) feature pace was won by the lone mare in the race, Cincy Chi Lizzie. With trainer Jack Dailey in the sulky, Cincy Chi Lizzie went wire-to-wire, posting a last quarter of :28.4 that kept her a half length in front of a hard charging Rick’s On Belief as she crossed the wire in 2:00.

With three seconds on her card for the year, this was Cincy Chi Lizzie’s first win in 2007.

Lebanon Raceway will be racing live on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Post time is at 7:20 p.m. The simulcast center is open seven days a week from 12:00 noon til 12:00 midnight.