07-07-2025
Deer Dashes Through Harness Race At The Meadows
Deer Dashes Through Harness Race At The Meadows originally appeared on Paulick Report.
It was an interesting sight at The Meadows in Washington, Pa., when a deer ran across the track as the horses went down the stretch for the first time.
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Luckily, no one was hurt, and the deer made it safely across the track.
Track announcer Jeff Zidek was caught by surprise when the incident happened, pausing briefly during his call, then following up with 'that was interesting.'
The deer bolted across the track right in front of Nockout and driver Robert Mcneight, who didn't look fazed by the encounter. The race went on as normal after that, with Joyridin Hd winning at odds of 25-1.
This wasn't the first time deer had invaded The Meadows racetrack. On Nov. 28, 2011, there was a delay before the ninth race because three deer got onto the track.
In 1989 two deer got involved in a race at Turfway Park during the fourth race on Friday the 13, when they crossed the track mid-race. The first got across unharmed; the second collided with leader Top Booking. The deer hobbled off the track, and Top Booking was unharmed. The jockey of Top Booking, Brian Peck, who was 18 years old at the time, was not so lucky. He sustained a compound fracture to his right forearm and was sidelined for two to three months. Peck went on to have a successful career, winning 1,213 races and earning $25,971,256.
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Cincinnati Reds legend and Turfway Park regular, Pete Rose, who passed away late last year, had told a story on the Dan Le Batard Show about a bad beat at Turfway Park, where his horse was struck by a deer. That was the race he was referring to.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
