Spectacular track accident

MONTICELLO, NY — A frightening accident in the second race at Monticello Raceway on Monday, May 30 involved all eight horses in the race and resulted in the judges declaring the race “no contest.”

Two of the Mighty M’s leading drivers, Jimmy Devaux and Mike Merton, appeared to sustain the worst injuries and were taken to the hospital.

After being checked at the local hospital, it was determined that Devaux sustained a broken collarbone and Merton was just badly bruised. Merton was scheduled to drive on the Tuesday, May 31 card.

Christian Avery, driven by Larry Stalbaum, was in the lead as the field rounded the final turn and just as he passed the 7/8 pole, Christian Avery fell, catapulting Stalbaum to the ground and causing a chain reaction among the entire field, who were in tight quarters preparing for the stretch drive.

Sabayon Hanover, driven by Dennis Laterza, and Three Fingers Brown, driven by Mike Forte, managed to avoid falling. The rest of the field wasn’t so lucky.

Greg Merton, Gary Messenger and Jacques Primeau were the other drivers involved in the accident, but other than bumps and bruises, they remained unscathed as did Stalbaum, who drove in the later races on the card.

All the horses involved were not seriously hurt.