Palm Meadows training delayed due to police pursuit

The training track at Palm Meadows opened an hour later than normal on Tuesday morning after two men who had stolen an ATM from a nearby bank in Boynton Beach crashed their getaway vehicle on the grounds of the training facility around 4:30 a.m., track officials said.

Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pursue the men through the grounds of the training facility, but according to track officials were unable to locate them. The ATM was recovered at the crash site.

The training track opens at 6:30 a.m. at Palm Meadows, but horses were not allowed out on the track until 7:30 on Tuesday. The track remained open an hour later than usual to compensate horsemen for the lost time.

“Palm Beach County police chased the flatbed truck down Boynton Beach Boulevard and up Lyons Road, after which the truck turned into our facility and crashed through the gate,” said Palm Meadows general manager Gary Vandenbroek. “They continued on and made the second left into our dormitory parking lot. When the driver attempted to make another turn as he was approaching the racetrack, the truck flipped over.”

Vandenbroek said the two men abandoned the truck and fled.

“They must have left the track grounds and headed east toward the turnpike,” said Vandenbroek. “They probably went across the canal and were able to get away.”