by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — The injury suffered by driver Dave Palone in a mishap Tuesday night (April 10) at The Meadows was diagnosed today as multiple fractures of the upper right femur, more commonly known as the thighbone.

Meadows photo

Dave Palone suffered multiple fractures of the upper right femur.

Palone’s wife, Bethann, who spent the night with him at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, said doctors will perform surgery tomorrow to insert a rod and pins. She said they currently believe they can accomplish everything they need to in a single surgery.

She said the injured leg won’t be able to bear weight for six weeks, a period that will be followed by further rehabilitation. While the length of that rehab cannot be estimated yet, it may be shorter for Palone than for most, thanks to his excellent physical condition and the help of his wife, an occupational therapist by profession.

“As soon as he’s medically stable, I want to bring him home and help him,” she said. “I told him, ‘That’s why you married me. You’ll be as good as new.’”

The accident occurred in the final race of the Tuesday card when Hannington, driven by Greg Wright, Jr., tried to move between horses approaching the final turn and fell to the track. Palone and Be Dreamin, progressing along the inside, could not avoid colliding with the fallen horse. Be Dreamin stayed upright, but Palone was hurled from the sulky and bounced hard off the racing surface.

Wright bounced to his feet almost immediately and did not appear to suffer serious injuries. Both horses were able to walk from the track.

Palone, approaching 11,500 wins for his career, ranks third in harness racing’s all-time standings, trailing only Herve Filion and Cat Manzi.