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Originally Posted by v j stauffer
First I've ever heard anything about him breaking bits. Suppose it's possible. Horse was named Regan's Lad. The equipment broke heading into first turn. Goudreau eased him to the middle of the track. Turned his legs to the side of the sulky and jumped. His leg's seemed to catch something in such a way it whipped his body and head into the track. He couldn't be saved.
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The bit definitely broke. It was in the stories written about it back in the day. The backstretch rumor has always been the horse was notorious for doing it and the trainer and groom didn't tell Shelly. The part I've never understood is how that would have made a difference. It's like me telling you my car's tires sometimes fly off before giving you the keys. I'm not sure how the information helps you from crashing.
I was also always told this event and Jack Parker's accident which was essentially equally bad but he survived caused drivers to start wearing real helmets. Supposedly the helmets of the 70's and early 80's were essentially like old football helmets. Lot of leather and little else.
The other kicker is Jack Parker went back to driving and drove till recently. If you spent 30 seconds talking to him you'd see he had a traumatic brain injury. I always felt it was weird they let a guy driver horses who clearly was a little off and definitely had dull response time.
