Technical Problems...

 Gate didn't properly release. Ow.

Oops.

A small trip can be a big deal when you have things attached to you.

Dang...

Nasty harness racing accident, and some amazing riding from the wrangler there.

The downed horse does eventually get up after a lot of encouragement. I don't know if he was injured physically or mentally, though.

Don't...

...try this unless you really know what you're doing. I've seen people almost get killed trying it.

Horrible, Horrible...

This is one of the most bizarre horse racing accidents I've seen.

All I can say is that if the track was so wet that the gate car spun, why were they racing in the first place? Amazingly, all of the horses walked off the track. Three of the drivers, however, ended up in the hospital.

Harness Racing...

...is a very dangerous sport. Especially for the drivers.

This is one bad pileup. I'm glad I wasn't there.

First Time...

...in the cart.

She's really not sure about this. The poster said it's attitude, but it looks pretty typical "confused green horse" to me. No matter how much ground driving she's had, the weight and the sound of the wheels are going to get to her a bit.

Yeah, she definitely tries to get rid of the cart a couple of times. Can't really blame her. Which is why they have somebody in the cart, a different person on the lines and a third person there JUST to watch and jump in if things go wrong.

Dose of Cute...

Because I'm in the mood for adorableness, check out the cutest harness race ever. I don't know what the Standardbreds thought of this...

Zoom!

Amazing driving

This shows the entire race. Watch going into the second turn and you'll see a driver unseated...

...then watch at the very end as Tony Morgan brings two horses home safely. I have never seen or heard of a driver doing this, but he probably prevented a worse wreck - and as we've seen, harness racing wrecks can be very bad indeed.

Racing Is Dangerous

...but flat racing accidents have nothing on this:

The race starts out pretty normally with the truck pulling away safe and a decent field of pacers. I had to frame by frame it to see what happened. I honestly can't tell whether the second place horse, Getthemoney, just tripped or whether the two sulkies touched wheels. He picked himself up, having shed his driver. The horse behind collided...and massive pileup.

None of the horses appeared to be injured and I found a news story here that confirms only minor injuries. The drivers were less lucky - several of them were injured.

I once knew a Standardbred who was in an accident on the track. He never raced again despite being only minorly hurt...physically. He refused to be put to a sulky again, and I can't blame him.

The thing with driving is that you don't wreck as often, but when you do...well...it can be truly spectacular. This is why you wear a helmet, people.