In a heart-stopping moment that has sent shockwaves through the racing world, a field of high-speed Quarter Horses and their jockeys narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision with an ambulance during a race in the United States.
A Terrifying Scene Unfolds
The serious incident occurred this past Saturday night during the eighth race at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. In a baffling breach of standard safety protocol, the track ambulance, which is assigned to follow the race for medical support, inadvertently drove the wrong way, heading directly into the path of the oncoming horses.
All eight jockeys were forced to take evasive action at the last second shortly after the race began. Their quick thinking was nothing short of heroic as they realised the vehicle was moving towards them. The riders rounded the first bend and then desperately tried to pull up their mounts or swing them away from the rail to avoid impact.
Swift Action and a 'No Contest' Ruling
Miraculously, the jockeys' swift reactions meant everyone escaped serious injury. While One Fast Cajun, ridden by jockey Kody Kellenberger, technically finished first, the race was later declared a "no contest" by stewards. This decision resulted in all bets placed on the race being refunded.
The vision of the near-disaster quickly went viral, with shocked punters and racing enthusiasts reacting to the rare and frightening scene. Jockey Kellenberger took to Facebook later that night, posting, "I guess there’s a first for everything. Thank God we all made it back safe. Not to mention these were nearly all stakes horses."
Investigation Launched After Close Call
Track announcer Rob Tuel, who was focused on calling the race, admitted he initially did not grasp the severity of the situation. "To be honest with you I saw a flash of flight and did not pick up that it was actually a moving vehicle going the other way," Tuel said. He confirmed the vehicle was "out of position on the turn" and that it "seriously affect[ed] some of the runners."
It remains unclear why the ambulance was driving towards the horses instead of tailing them as per normal procedures. Track officials have since launched a full investigation to understand exactly how the vehicle ended up heading in the wrong direction, putting both human and equine athletes in grave danger.
