Driver hurt in fall at Bangor Raceway Mahar suffered wrist, collarbone injuries

BANGOR – A harness racing driver was injured at Bangor Raceway Sunday when he was thrown from his sulky after the horse he was driving tripped and fell.

Justin Mahar, 22, of New Brunswick, received a fractured wrist and a broken collarbone when the horse he was driving, Soudnahunk, fell during Sunday’s second qualifying race, according to track general manager Fred Nichols.

Mahar was catapulted forward from his sulky, also called a bike, when his horse misstepped and fell. The horse then ran over Mahar, although Nichols said that the fall was what caused the injuries.

Mahar was thrown from his sulky just 100 yards into the race, according to race judges. Judges also said it was impossible to tell what position Mahar was in when he went down, given how early in the race the accident occurred.

The other four horses in the race did not trip or fall, and no one else was hurt. The race was stopped as Mahar lay on the track and Soudnahunk ran. The horse did not race again on Sunday.

Mahar was conscious when paramedics strapped him onto a stretcher and rushed him to Eastern Maine Medical Center. Nichols said the injury is the first at Bangor Raceway this year.

Soudnahunk was the No. 3 horse in the qualifying race. Qualifying races are not for wagering as they determine seedings for the official races.