Goose meets horses and its maker at Fonner

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Live racing at Fonner Park was called off after the second race on Sunday afternoon because of high winds and dropping temperatures which contributed to poor conditions for riders and horses. The track was listed as muddy to start the program and winds were steady at more than 30 miles per hour with gusts much higher.

The second race was marked by a bizarre incident involving a goose on the track. As the field of maidens entered the first turn of the six-furlong race, Beefy And I No It ran into the goose as it lifted into flight to avoid the oncoming horses. The goose then ricocheted into the legs of Giant Baby, causing that horse to stumble badly and unseat rider Billy Henson.

The incident allowed Beefy And I No It to inherit a large lead heading up the backstretch, but the riderless Giant Baby ranged up outside and put him into the rail entering the far turn. Beefy And I No It lost the lead to Tuff Cowboy at that point but rallied back to win the race by a neck. The others in the field were all bothered in one way or another by the fallen rider, and four of the six horses finished the race. Racing was called off shortly afterward.

All horses and riders escaped injury in the race, although the goose was not so fortunate.