Five-year-old girl critically injured by starting gate

A tragic accident occurred at the Altamont, IL harness racing fair in the very first race on Sunday, July 30.

The starting gate was traveling too close to the grandstand area and the wing struck 5-year-old Harper Finn in the head. She was taken to a local hospital, then airlifted to a St. Louis hospital where she is listed in critical condition from her injuries last night.

It was incorrectly reported by Harnesslink that she had passed away.

Racing was cancelled for the rest of the program.

A statement from the Effingham County Fair management said:

At this time, we send our deepest thoughts and prayers to a spectator and her family after an accident occurred at our horse races this afternoon. We are taking this matter seriously and have postponed or cancelled the remaining races for the day.

Here at the Effingham County Fair, we are working closely with local law enforcement and emergency personnel. This is not taken lightly. Processes and procedures will be reviewed once the investigation is complete.

The Jeffer’s Memorial Races are postponed till 11:00 am Monday July 31st, and the remaining races are cancelled.

There is a gofundme page set up by the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association to help the Finn Family, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink