Dr. Ian Moore and Sarah Svanstedt injured in on-track collision
by Melissa Keith
Friday night (June 12) racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park was temporarily on hold for what seemed like an eternity after race 3. The track had been busy with 3-year-old fillies warming up for Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots leg 2 pacers and Grade 3 Casual Breeze trotters divisions. Around 7:30 p.m., announcer Chad Rozema suddenly asked the public to stand back from the rail as a horse galloped past the tote board, pulling an empty jog cart.
An accident had occurred where the track’s far turn curves toward the stretch, before the three-quarter pole, far enough away that spectators were unclear on who was involved or what took place. According to eyewitnesses who were on the track, along with a statement from Woodbine communications, two horses driven by Dr. Ian Moore and Sarah Svanstedt had collided while traveling in opposite directions.
The horse on the run was Jay, a 3-year-old Cattlewash filly trained by Moore. The other horse, 3-year-old Googoo Gaagaa filly All Time Trot S, was led out of the infield, where she had been unhitched. Svanstedt was driving the Ake Svanstedt trainee when they were reportedly run into by Jay, whom AGCO veterinarian Dr. Chris Robson said had randomly shied away from a tractor.
People began running to assist the fallen trainers and catch Jay, who eventually pulled up near the paddock. They also attended to All Time Trot S, who was quickly unharnessed and led back to the paddock. A few minutes later, Moore was crouching a short distance from Svanstedt, who was still motionless on the track. She was lifted onto a stretcher by paramedics and loaded onto an ambulance shortly before 8 p.m.. Halton Regional Paramedic Services and Malton Regional Police also attended the scene.
A few minutes later, the emergency services vehicles moved to the paddock turn. Moore appeared to be in good spirits, despite a bandaged left arm. After being examined by paramedics, he left for the hospital with wife Nancy and son Tyler. Jay, who was entered in race 6, an OSS Grassroots event, was scratched lame.
The 1-9 Casual Breeze favorite All Time Trot S looked her usual self in the race 7 post parade and scoring down for driver James MacDonald. Her first-over rally from fourth past the half was nonetheless unable to carry her past 8-1 pacesetter (and race winner) Kngtstlkrs Games on the final turn. All Time Trot S began losing ground down the stretch, dropping back to eighth by the finish.
Dr. Chris Robson said that the AGCO Standardbred Rules of Racing state that a horse who runs loose must be examined and scratched if necessary. He said that Jay had a “knee blown up” and that Doc Moore’s arm injury was a “bad abrasion.”
Robson added that All Time Trot S was not injured and not required to scratch.
“She just went in the infield and stood there like a good horse [after the collision],” he said.
Sarah Svanstedt had been listed to drive Busy Miss Lissy S in the other Casual Breeze division. She was replaced by Tyler Jones after the spill. Sarah, whom Robson said had been “going a training mile” with All Time Trot S at the time of the accident, was momentarily knocked out and suffered a broken collarbone.
Racing resumed about 45 minutes after the accident. Woodbine communications posted on Twitter (X) at 8:32 p.m. that “both trainers were conscious and will be transported to a local hospital for further examination” and “both horses are okay.”
