Keith Crawford hurt in Sports Creek spill

Keith Crawford, inducted into Michigan's Harness Racing Hall of Fame on Jan. 23, is in the intensive care unit at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint Monday morning recovering from injuries sustained in a serious race accident at Sports Creek Raceway on Saturday night. Crawford, 63, sustained bruising on the brain in the spill, and on Monday afternoon he told harnessracing.com that he was feeling better and awaiting results from a cat scan.

 

Crawford said he was hoping to be released from the hospital as soon as late Monday afternoon or on Tuesday. Although he was going to be able to return home, Crawford said he doesn't expect to return to the sulky anytime soon. The accident also left driver Larry Lake with a dislocated shoulder that will require surgery to repair. Lake was not admitted to the hospital and was released after being treated.

 

The spill occurred at the three-quarter pole in the eighth race when the leading TK Farnsworth, driven by Lake, suddenly fell. That set off a chain reaction that resulted in four other horses falling, including the Crawford-driven Snow's First Angel. According to the TV report, one unidentified horse suffered minor injuries while the other drivers emerged unscathed.

 

Steve Main was on the outside driving Fourth Street when he saw the accident unfold inside of him. "I knew when I saw the front horse drop that it was going to be really bad," Main told the local ABC television affiliate.