Child dies following accident at harness racing track in Woodstock, N.B.

Woodstock, N.B. police are currently investigating a tragic incident that occurred during Saturday’s harness racing card at Connell Park Raceway. The incident resulted in a fatality, and the community is in mourning over the loss of a three-year-old boy.

According to Theresa Blackburn, a reporter for the River Valley Sun in Woodstock, Deputy Police Chief Simon Watts confirmed that the accident occurred when the boy was struck by the starting gate. The news has cast a pall over the community, especially considering it was Father’s Day weekend and harness racing is a beloved activity in the area.

In a video of Saturday’s harness race, the announcer can be heard calling for an ambulance shortly after the second race begins. It is unclear from the video exactly what transpired, but it is a heartbreaking turn of events.

Harness racing involves the starting gate being attached to a vehicle that guides the horses to the race start. Despite the tragic incident, racing continued for the remainder of the afternoon.

Mitchell Downey, president of Horse Racing New Brunswick, expressed deep sadness over the incident and confirmed that a joint investigation is underway with the police, the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission, and New Brunswick Coroner Services. Downey mentioned that incidents like these are extremely rare in the world of harness racing, with only three occurrences in over 600,000 races in the past 30 years.

The Town of Woodstock’s council and staff are also deeply saddened by the tragedy. Mayor Trina Jones thanked the bystanders who provided assistance until first responders arrived at the scene. The track will remain closed until the investigation is completed.

The entire community is coming together to support each other during this difficult time. It is important to allow the police investigation to unfold and provide accurate information to the public. The racing community, as well as the residents of Woodstock, are grieving the loss of the young boy and are focused on finding out the details of the incident to prevent such tragedies in the future.