Drivers released from hospital after spill at Scioto
September 9, 2007,by Anne Doolin for Scioto Downs
Columbus, OH – Drivers Eric Tharps and Tony Hall, both transported to Grant Medical Center Saturday night after a chain-reaction spill in Scioto Down’s seventh race, were both released overnight. Saturday was also Jug Preview Night at Scioto, with 11 3-year-old colts entered in the stakes event, which was race nine on the card.
Hall, who was knocked out briefly, is programmed to drive two horses tonight at the Red Mile and several on Monday, but has not yet taken himself off, said Red Mile Presiding Judge Mike Davis.
Dave Palone, back driving only three months after fracturing his right thighbone in a racing accident in April, also went down in the accident, as did Chris Page. Both drove the reminder of the card, with Palone winning the very next race.
“Our outrider, Cindi Johnson, and EMTs were right on top of things,” said Stacy Cahill, general manager of racing operations at Scioto. “Because of their quick action, they kept a bad situation from possibly becoming a disaster. We had drivers down, four loose horses, and things were quickly brought under control. I think Cindi may be the best outrider in the business. She was just incredible last night.”
Won The West was undeterred by the second tier in the $165,000 Jug Preview, and driver Greg Grismore worked his way up the inside until he found room late. The Mickey Burke trainee powered home with a :27.3 final quarter to post a half-length win over pacesetter Kinetic Yankee and Palone.
Won The West stopped the timer in 1:51 over a track rated sloppy. Scioto was hit with a deluge shortly before post time, and rains continued throughout the evening.
Artist’s View, supplemented for $6,000 to the Preview, was third with Tim Tetrick driving. Tetrick, on a record pace to set both new earnings and wins records this season, was making his Scioto debut. He won two races on the card.
Hometown favorite KF St Patrick, last year’s 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year in Ohio, suffered traffic problems from the second tier and never got in the game, finishing fifth.