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Freehold Raceway accident video shows car from the door track slippery slide into the horses, drivers.
A strange accident Friday in Freehold Raceway saw the car starting grid skid out of control and six horses and drivers.
The field of seven trotters entered the first turn on half-mile oval Freehold when video replays showed the car slide forward immediately, make a 180 degree turn and face head on the ground only on horse head, Civic Duty led by James Clarry, cleared the car, which has large doors on each side which are folded after a race begins.
The second horse, led by Hall of Famer Catello Manzi, and Sulky were first planted in the car and a door that was still fully deployed.
Manzi suffered a puncture lung and broken ribs, a spokesman for the track said All drivers are in stable condition.
We do not what happened He was certainly know a freak mishap anything I've ever seen in 40 years in the race, said director Freehold Raceway race and racing secretary Karen Fagliarone.
The track conditions are not a problem for the first four races of the day, Fagliarone said, adding that there was no ice on the track reported However, Freehold immediately canceled his last six races of the day after 'accident.
Track and Freehold Superintendent Michael Fagliarone CEO Howard Bruno have both declined to comment on the driver starting grid of the car, Robert Blum, could not be reached.
The initial inspection was that the horses are all in agreement, said Fagliarone Three of the four drivers were transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, and Jim Pantaleano was taken to Centra State Medical Center in Freehold.
Freehold officials said they did not know what caused the car to spin.
In addition to Manzi, a Freehold resident aged 63, drivers Jim Pantaleano Debra Rucker and Vince Ginsburg were taken to hospital complaining of a variety of injuries, said Fagliarone.
Manzi was in absolute agony, Fagliarone said, adding that it appeared to be the most seriously injured pilot.
The video time stamp shows the accident at July 2 pm The track was slippery but the Freehold temperature was 37 degrees at 2 pm It was the fifth race on the card in Freehold and officials said the race a no- contest.
Freehold Raceway accident video shows car starting grid on the track slippery slide into horses, freehold raceway accident.