Accident Takes Three Horses' Lives at Fonner Park

A horrific accident in the last race March 3 at Fonner Park took the lives of three horses and sent three jockeys and an outrider to the hospital. "I've never seen anything like it and have always hoped I never would," said Salvador Arceo, the Fonner-based trainer of Spry Charlie, one of three horses involved in a pileup right before the far turn. Heading into the turn of the four-furlong race, 4-year-old gelding Dial Uncle Joey clipped heels with the horse in front of him and fell. Right behind Dial Uncle Joey were Spry Charlie and J Ps Harley Glider, who fell over the fallen horse. Spry Charlie got back on his feet and began running the opposite direction down the backstretch, while J P's Harley Glider also got back on his feet and began running counterclockwise behind the rest of the field. Outrider Bo Butler was able to catch Spry Charlie in the first turn but was now facing seven horses still racing full tilt toward the wire and toward him. He moved Spry Charlie toward the outside rail and was able to avoid the horses still racing, but J Ps Harley Glider collided with his pony at near full speed, according to a report of the incident from Fonner Park. Spry Charlie survived the second collision but Butler's pony, You Be Gator Bait (known as Gator), and J Ps Harley Glider had to be euthanized on the track. Dial Uncle Joey reportedly died on the track due to a broken neck. Jockeys Bryan McNeil (on J Ps Harley Glider), Ricardo Martinez (on Dial Uncle Joey), Jon Jude (on Spry Charlie), and Butler were all sent to St. Francis Hospital. McNeil has a broken humerus that was to be treated March 4, and he also was treated for a separated shoulder. Jude fractured a finger and was treated and released. Martinez also was treated and released without any reported broken bones and will undergo the standard concussion protocol. The injury report from Fonner Park said Butler suffered a pneumothorax injury (air between a lung and chest wall) and had significant bruising on the left side of his body. He also will undergo the standard concussion follow-up protocol. Arceo said he was thankful to be able to walk Spry Charlie back to the barn. "I walked him back to the barn as gingerly as I could and got some meds into him," he said Monday. "This morning he ate a little bit and was walking good for the situation. I think he is going to be OK. "What Bo did, jumping into action to catch my horse and trying to keep everyone safe while putting himself in danger, it was a pretty valiant effort that I'd seen," he continued. "It makes me sick to my stomach to see any horse or its rider be involved in such a horrifying tragedy," said Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak in a statement. "Today's accident was a stark reminder of the ever-present hazard of horse racing. The jockeys and outrider were performing their dangerous professions, which the vast majority of the time ends without incident. I was pleased to see the incredibly quick reaction from all of the first responders. All of my staff, security and the emergency medical personnel did exactly what they have been trained to do." J Ps Harley Glider was a 4-year-old son of Sports Talk out of Julie C. and a Nebraska homebred for Jessica Condon. Trained by Schuyler Condon, the gelding was making his 2024 debut. Dial Uncle Joey was a son of Dialed In out of Crypto who was bred in Louisiana by Danny Brown. Owner/trainer Mark Hibdon claimed the gelding for $5,000 Feb. 2 from Erika Turrubiates. Dial Uncle Joey had a 1-3-3 record from 17 starts.