Filly uninjured after jumping fence at Ellis and taking off down the highway

The 2-year-old filly Bold and Bossy escaped serious injury Saturday following a frightening gallop down a highway prior to the first race at Ellis Park.

Bold and Bossy, who was set to make her career debut, dropped her rider in the post parade for the first race. She proceeded to jump a fence, run around the levy that surrounds the racetrack, and went out on Highway 41, according to Barbara Borden, a steward presiding at Ellis Park.

:: View footage of Bold and Bossy galloping down Highway 41 here.

The filly was retrieved a few miles away, in downtown Evansville.

“She was recovered in good shape,” Borden, who has been in communication with state veterinarians, said when asked about the general condition of Bold and Bossy.

Borden said a number of key officials came together to retrieve Bold and Bossy. She said the state veterinarians were in pursuit of the filly, and Ellis Park security brought in the Evansville Police. Ellis racing secretary Dan Bork played a significant role in recovering the filly, said Borden, as did trainers Wes Hawley, Jack Hancock and other horsemen.

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“I want to commend all of them,” said Borden. “It was a group effort.”

Bold and Bossy is a daughter of Strong Mandate.

Borden said the only recent similar incident she could recall is when a horse from Turfway jumped the rail during a race and headed up a highway ramp.