Drivers recovering after Albury fall

Three harness racing drivers are recovering from injuries in a sickening fall at Albury paceway last night.

The incident happened in the final lap of the last race, the Maiden Pace, and brought down three of the runners in the seven-horse field.

Trailing runners became tightened for room as the field headed down the back straight and two horses, Illawong Argyle (outside the leader) and Double Mach (three wide) locked wheels.

Illawong Argyle (Ronny Calleja) crashed to the track, with trailing runners unable to avoid the collision. Terror ofa Saint (Royce Gregory) also fell, as did Nicky Khan, whose driver Trevor Sutherland was flipped from the sulky and high into the air.

Albury club president Paul Brown was working as a track attendant during the race.

“It was just awful to watch. Trevor got up that high it was terrible to see, and he hit the track very hard. I was one of the first there and he was out to it for quite a while,” Brown said.

“He was able to walk after, though, which was a good sign and the report from him today is that he has a fractured cheek bone (from when he hit the track) but is waiting for more scans,” he said.

“Ronny Calleja (Illawong Argyle) took the heaviest fall and is in hospital with five broken ribs and a fractured heel, but again with more scans to come today.

“Royce Gregory (Terror ofa Saint) was up straight away, but his knee is sore today so he’s been to his doctor and having some further x-rays and checks.”

One of the horses involved, Illawong Argyle, tragically died on impact in the incident.

Brown said he was relieved the injuries to the drivers were not worse.

“Overall, when you consider the impact that happened, everyone is okay in a sense, but it’s a terrible thing to have happen. Thankfully we see a lot less of it these days, but it’s still distressing for everyone when it does.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink