Any West Virginian freepers see the 7 horse spill tonight?

02-29-12 | Me

[Kevin in California]

Any Mountaineer horseracing fans see the tragic 7 horse spill in tonight's 8th race? I heard there were 8 horses in the race and a horse went down in the backstretch and caused a chain reaction.

One horse miraculously escaped the fray and finished the race. The pathetic thing was they declared the race official with that one horse declared the winner. In my opinion, they should have refunded all wagered monies on the race.

Anyone with knowledge of this tragic spill know the condition of the jockeys and horse? I can't find anything online.

Prayers to all involved.

[ApplegateRanch]

In my opinion, they should have refunded all wagered monies on the race.

On what grounds? There was a finisher. It is a hazard of racing, same as NASCAR wrecks. Was there a nefarious plot by the winner to illegally eliminate the competition? How much did you lose?

[Amberdawn]

I can’t find anything online either, but most tracks do their best to prevent coverage of these “wrecks”. I hope all involved are O.K.

[Repub4bush]

The race should have been a no contest and monies refunded. People that bet the exacta and trifecta and even superfecta, had no chance of a win with 7 out of 8 horses down. But I am sure the track, didn't want to have to give back all the money bet on the race.

I would like to know if the jockeys and horses are OK too. I cringe every time a horse goes down.

[ApplegateRanch]

The race should have been a no contest and monies refunded.

Again, I ask, on what grounds? There has to be something in the rule books about it, besides "people lost money".

[ApplegateRanch]

Okay; nearly 3 hours is enough enough fun. Here's the real scoop:

It was a ghost race, with no money on it tonight. Season ended in December; new season starts Friday.

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Mountaineer Race Track's 2011 racing schedule commences on March 1, Tuesday and ends on December 23, Friday.

Live racing are scheduled every Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. The race track is dark every Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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Live Racing Returns to Mountaineer Friday
By Blood-Horse Staff
Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 8:13 PM
Posted: Monday, February 27, 2012 4:39 PM

Live Thoroughbred racing returns this Friday, March 2, at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. The track in West Virginia’s northern panhandle will commence its 62nd season with a 10-race card. Post time for the first race will be 7 p.m. EST.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67684/live-racing-returns-to-mountaineer-friday#ixzz1nqjjfbbA

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NOW do you understand why “news” of this can't be found on the Net; and why no money should be refunded? There wasn't a race, so there were no bets, and no “winner”! This was a rerun/rehash of something that happened in the past; or even a fictional event.

[Nepeta]

In nearly 50 years of following racing, I've never seen a chart like this:

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/CT022912USA.html

I will dig around my horsey sources and try to get some details.

The race had to be official. The start was normal, and there was no obstacle to a normal finish (rarely, the starting gate is stalled across the track, which leads to a no-contest ruling). As long as a horse has a rider at the finish--and that can include a rider up in the air, clinging to the reins--races become official.

[Holen1]

8th at Charles Town, not Mtn.

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/CT022912USA8.pdf

[Holen1]

According to Charles Town Chief Steward Danny Wright, Mawing was the only one of the seven jockeys kept overnight in the hospital for observation. Wright said the other six riders thrown from their mounts were able to walk away at some point last night following the spill.

“Everybody seems to be OK,” said Wright who was at the hospital after the accident. “Mr. Mawing remains in the hospital for observation and is reportedly in stable condition.”

According to the official Equibase chart, other than Sharp Beauty, who broke down, all of the horses who fell were able to walk off the track. Page’s Promise had visible cuts on her left front leg and left stifle. Wright said Sharp Beauty was the only horse euthanized after the spill.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/03/01/breakdown-causes-massive-spill-at-charles-town-races.aspx

[Nepeta]

The filly who broke down, Sharp Beauty, was euthanized.

All the others had cuts and bruises, but walked off, which is amazing.

Riders were hospitalized, but none had life-threatening injuries, and at last report two remained in hospital.

Video is here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T9hJdm28aY

The "horrifying deaths" report is just wrong. At the start, the horse in the #1 post stumbles badly at the start-the rider does a remarkable job of staying in the saddle. #3, Miss Fifty, in the maroon silks, is the eventual survivor and winner. Her rider,Oswald Pereira, shows great skill and determination to stay on her back and in the irons. Watch the entire video--after the 'winner' is pulled up, a loose horse nearly collides with her.