Woodbine Mohawk Park: Qualifying accident sends a trio of drivers to the sidelines

Drivers Phil Hudon, Anthony MacDonald and Bob McClure were all taken to hospital following an accident during Thursday morning’s fourth qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The accident occurred in the second-quarter of the race when pacer Excaliber Seelster and driver Louis Philippe Roy stepped on the wheel of driver Paul MacDonell, who was sitting in the two-hole with Prestige Seelster. Excaliber Seelster broke stride from stepping on the wheel, which caused a chain reaction.

American Risk and McClure were trailing Excaliber Seelster and fell to the track. Hudon, driving The First Step, and MacDonald, driving Sunshines Finest, couldn’t avoid the fallen horse and were both tossed from their sulkies to the track.

Paramedics were quickly on the scene and transported McClure and MacDonald by ambulance to a local hospital. Hudon also went to hospital to be examined.

All three drivers took to social media Thursday afternoon to provide updates on their injuries.

MacDonald posted on Facebook that he suffered a broken wrist, broken elbow, broken ribs and a small collapsed lung.

McClure also posted on Facebook, noting he broke his pelvis in the accident, but will not require surgery.

Hudon shared on Twitter that he suffered a broken left foot.

All three horses were caught following the incident after being loose on the track.

Sunshines Finest, who is trained by Harry Poulton, was transported to the University of Guelph for examination. TheStable.ca posted that the 3-year-old pacer did not suffer any fractures or breaks and will make a full recovery.

American Risk and The First Step came out of the incident without serious injuries.

Woodbine Entertainment extends its best wishes to Hudon, MacDonald, McClure and the connections of Sunshines Finest for a speedy and healthy recovery.

-edited release (Woodbine)