Belote dies of injuries

Harness racing's worst fear became a harsh reality on Monday when 51-year-old driver Harold “Hal” Belote was killed in a tragic racing accident in the first race at Harrington Raceway. Two more drivers, Brandon Givens and Steve Warrington, were also injured, but the full extent of their injuries was unavailable at the time of this writing.

Warrington was flown by helicopter to Christiana Care Hospital, where he was believed to have suffered leg and rib injuries. Givens also was taken to Christiana, with an apparent compound fracture of a leg.

Belote was driving Atenothnbutdscootr past the half-mile mark when his horse fell and apparently caused Givens and Warrington, who were in close proximity, to go down because they were unable to avoid the fallen horse.

Belote was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, and the remainder of the racing program was canceled.

Belote, a popular figure among his racing colleagues, won 1,986 races in his career and drove the winners of nearly $11 million. His first career driving win came at Harrington Raceway, in 1977.

He also was an established trainer with a particular knack for trotters. Perhaps his best horse was the trotting mare Smashing Jane GT, who won nearly $300,000, lifetime and was a track record holder at Harrington.

Belote had one of the higher win percentages among trainers in Delaware the past 10 years.

All of the horses in the accident, Atenothnbutdscootr, Build A Fire, and High Calibre N seemed to escape serious injury. (by Matt Sparacino, publicity director, Harrington Raceway)

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