Several jockeys at Freehold Raceway Park were injured Friday when a starting gate car skidded on a wet track after pulling away from the horses.

 

Screen shot from video of accident at Freehold Raceway
Screen shot from video of accident at Freehold Raceway (Freehold Raceway)
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The car, pulling a trainer with two extensions, acts as a starting gate and leads the seven horses in the first moments of the race according to a video posted on NJ.com. As the car picked up speed and went into a curve Friday, it slid into a 180-degree turn with the gates still extended

One horse, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Catello Manzi, ran into the front of the spun-out car according, to the Star-Ledger. Manzi suffered a punctured lung and several cracked ribs.

In a press release, the track's general manager, Howard Bruno, said, “Several drivers are receiving medical attention and right now our thoughts and concerns are with them." The horses were alright, the statement said.

Bruno told the Asbury Park Press track conditions were listed as "sloppy"  but said, "We run 10 to 12 races a day and 1,200 over the course of a year. “We’ve had nothing like this happen before."

The accident occurred in the fifth race of the day, which was declared a "no contest." The track canceled the remaining races for the day. Live races for Saturday have been canceled due to heavy rain.

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CAUTION: Video may be disturbing to some

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