Driver hurt in Big M spill

Driver Daniel Dube will be sidelined eight to 12 weeks with a broken right clavicle and multiple broken ribs suffered in a spill in the fourth race on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.



Dube was coming up the pylons with El Nino Hanover late in the race when and was unable to avoid a mishap in front of him. He was thrown hard to the track.



After being examined and stabilized by the Meadowlands Medical Unit, he was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for x-rays and treatment. He will be hospitalized for two to three days.



The accident happened near the finish line when CPW and his driver, Andy Miller, were pinched in tight quarters, flipping Miller out of his seat. The vacated sulky collided with Dube and his horse.



Miller drove the remainder of the program.



CPW suffered a small knee gash and received stitches. Both he and El Nino Hanover were treated for muscle soreness but appeared otherwise uninjured.



"I don't remember what happened after I went to the inside," said Dube on Thursday afternoon. "I can't remember. I do know it hurts whenever I move. But I do feel a little better than last night. Whenever I get in an accident, I immediately get up–right away. It's an instinct. I did it again last night. It must have been adrenaline. But the pain was the worst I ever felt."



No surgery is planned for Dube, who in addition to the broken right collar bone, also broke all the ribs on his right side and bruised his lung, according to his girlfriend, Kim Richard.



"The doctors said it is key to keep moving," she said. "I guess like anything else, this could have been worse. Now we'll just have to concentrate on Dan getting better."



The 36-year-old Dube, who currently lives in Millstone, N.J., is a Quebec native with 5,200 victories and nearly $39 million in purse earnings to his credit. He suffered a separated left shoulder in a spill on May 9, 2002 at the Meadowlands and missed two months. (Meadowlands)

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