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3-Year-Old Boy Dies After He's Struck by Starting Gate at Horse Racing Track: Reports
A three-year-old boy died in a "tragic accident" at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, Canada, on Saturday, June 14
He was fatally struck by a starting gate during the first harness race event of the season at the track, according to local news outlets
"We must ensure that due diligence is done to protect the public and prevent future accidents,' said Trina Jones, Mayor for the Town of WoodstockA three-year-old boy has died in Canada after reportedly being struck by a starting gate during a horse racing event.
At around 1:25 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 14, first responders arrived at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, New Brunswick, having received a report of an injured child. The three-year-old boy was rushed to the Upper River Valley Hospital in nearby Waterville, after it was confirmed that he had been struck by a starting gate as it was being towed to the venue's grandstand by a pickup truck, CBC News and CTV News reported.
A starting gate is typically used in harness racing to guide the horses to an even running start and is then towed off the track, according to the outlets.
'It does appear, based on the initial information from some people that we've got, that it is a tragic accident," Deputy Chief Simon Watts of the Woodstock Police Force said in a news conference, per CBC News.
"We know nowadays, everyone's got a cellphone camera, so if we can obviously get clarification on where the incident actually took place and the details of it, and there's a few questions with regard to closeness of the gate,' he added, according to the outlet.
Watts said on Monday that police had finished their investigation and had turned the incident over to the Town of Woodstock, which owns the raceway.
In a safety review of Connell Park Raceway released on Tuesday, the Town of Woodstock shared its 'condolences to all those affected' by the 'unimaginable loss.' They announced that they would be doing a comprehensive review ahead of future events, adding that the organizers of scheduled events would also be contacted 'out of an abundance of caution.'
'We understand the immense effort, time, and resources that go into organizing community events,' said Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones, per the safety review. 'We are committed to working with our event partners to support them through this process. At the same time, we must ensure that due diligence is done to protect the public and prevent future accidents.'
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A RibFest event scheduled for this weekend is going ahead, while the horse race on June 28 is unconfirmed, CTV News reported. Connell Park Raceway was scheduled to host 11 harness racing days for the season, and the fatal incident occurred during their first, per the outlet.
Watts said New Brunswick Coroner's Services and the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission will also be conducting investigations, according to CBC News. He did not comment on whether anyone would face charges for the boy's death.
Connell Park Raceway shared their 'heartfelt condolences' on Facebook alongside details of a fundraiser set up to support the boy's family.
In a follow-up post, they wrote, 'As many of you know, there was a tragic accident last night at our racetrack. The Woodstock Driving Club is now accepting donations to help support the family with the unexpected expenses during this incredibly difficult time.'
They shared an email address to send donations and encouraged people to share the post, adding, 'If you're able to donate, it would be deeply appreciated. If not, simply sharing this post to help spread the word means just as much.'
Dr. Mitchell Downey, President of Horse Racing New Brunswick, said, per Standardbred Canada, "The entire racing community is deeply saddened by the tragic events of June 14. On behalf of all our participants, we wish to express our deepest sympathies. We also ask everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.'
Woodstock Police, New Brunswick Coroner's Services, and the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Friday, June 20.
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