Tax has minor setback, will be scratched from Essex Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Tax has been scratched from the $500,000 Essex Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park after sustaining a small puncture wound on one of his hind legs, trainer Danny Gargan said Friday.

Tax was the 120-pound highweight and probable favorite for the mile and a sixteenth race to be run on the same card as the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel.

Gargan said Tax was injured Friday morning, when leaving the wash rack following a training session. He said the horse went through a metal grate surrounding the area. Gargan said staples were required to address the wound that is about an inch in length.

“It’s just a freak accident,” Gargan said. “Probably 1,000 horses have walked over that thing and nothing happened.

“He’ll be healed up in two weeks and he’ll be back in training.”

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Gargan said Tax would head to WinStar Farm in Kentucky for hyperbaric chamber sessions to promote healing of the injury.

“He looked so good right now,” said Gargan. “It’s a sad situation.

“Now, we’ll just take a step back and reset.”

Tax, who is nearing $1 million in career earnings, won the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park in December with a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.