As reported by the Otago Daily Times, Ryal Bush trainer-driver Peter Hunter is on the mend despite remaining in hospital following his spectacular crash at Ascot Park on Sunday.

Hunter was catapulted from the sulky of My Georgie Boy and then knocked unconscious on landing, after a pile up of horses and drivers 50m after the start of race 10, on Southern Harness Racing's Diamonds Day.

Following the incident, ambulance staff, as well as a large number of race officials and onlookers, rushed to the aid of four drivers who were ejected from their sulkies.

As drivers Nathan Williamson, Tim Williams and Blair Orange got to their feet, despite looking stiff and sore, racegoers looked in dread as Hunter lay motionless on the track.

Hunter was attended to by St John's ambulance staff as he regained consciousness, before being transported to Southland Hospital.

On Sunday night, the Southern harness racing fraternity anxiously waited for updates on Hunter, before his brother, Hamish Hunter, told the Otago Daily Times that “hopefully things are pretty good''.

Yesterday, Peter Hunter was able to give the Otago Daily Times a further update from his Southland Hospital bed.

The horseman has been with diagnosed with concussion, but cleared of any other major physical injury, he said.

“They have got to keep me in for a couple of days for observation because it is a concussion.”

While Hunter has no memory of his crash he has not lost any of his sense of humour.

“I'm physically fine, it is just the head – the hardest part of the body,” he quipped.

“I actually didn't feel too much, because I was knocked out.”

Hunter has no recollection of catapulting through the air or hitting the Ascot Park track, he said.

“All I remember was running over Blair Orange and that was it.”

“I can't remember anything else.”

“They are telling me I am pretty lucky.”

Hunter was relieved to hear Orange escaped relatively unharmed, the reinsman went on to win only race staged after the accident aboard Mongolian Storm.

However, while the horseman was frustrated to be stuck in his hospitalised while his wife, Jo, looked after their team of horses at home, he was mindful of the processes doctors must go through when dealing with a concussion.

“It is just like a rugby player – if they get knocked out.''

“You have just got to take your time, they make you take your time and they see if you get worse or better.”

Hunter's horse, My Georgie Boy, came through the incident in better shape than he did.

Unlike Hunter, the horse was allowed to return home after the races after suffering grazing to a fetlock and joint and some soreness.

The investigation in to Sunday's crash was likely to be completed by the end of the week, Racing Integrity Unit general manager, Mike Godber said.

“The inquiry is continuing with some drivers still to be interviewed and all the films of the race to be reviewed.”

“The inquiry will be completed at its earliest by Friday 5 May.”

Courtesy of
Otago Daily Times
https://www.odt.co.nz/