Mike Wilder flown to hospital after racing accident

WASHINGTON, PA, June 8, 2024 — The harness racing program at The Meadows was marred on Saturday by a three-horse accident in race three involving drivers Hunter Myers, Palone and Mike Wilder, who was unseated from his horse, Battleshoe Hart, and thrown violently onto the racetrack.

The accident took place in the backstretch when Wilder’s horse, who was racing in second place at the time, broke stride and then hooked wheels with another horse.

According to Wilder’s wife, Heather Wilder, her husband was briefly unconscious while prone on the track before being LifeFlighted to a Pittsburgh hospital for observation and testing. There, he was alert and chatting on the phone. Palone and Myers were uninjured and completed their day’s assignments, but Battleshoe Hart was euthanized on the track.

Below is the video of the accident, if you are squeamish about watching an accident on the racetrack, please do not watch this video.

ACCIDENT RACE REPLAY

Be Dazzled Lou A let favorite Red Right Hand do the heavy lifting on the front, then roared by him in the stretch to capture Saturday’s feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $12,500 Conditioned Pace.

In his second start off a three-week freshening, Be Dazzled Lou A was quite content to let Red Right Hand dictate the pace. When Dave Palone asked him for pace in the lane, though, the 5-year-old Sweet Lou-Dazed And Confused gelding was much the fresher horse, drawing off to down Red Right Hand by 2 lengths in a career-best 1:50.2. Miki Minaj was a ground-saving third.

BE DAZZELD LOU A REPLAY

Alicia Hanners trains the winner for Royal Rock Racing, LLC and Luke Hanners.

Anthony MacDonald and Palone each enjoyed a triple on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the 13-race program features a $638.15 carryover in the Pick 5. First post is 12:45 PM.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association