Trotter struck by truck

Trotter Nelson November, who has won two straight top-class races at the Meadowlands and four of his last six starts, was killed Thursday morning at White Birch Farm in New Jersey when he got loose while jogging and was struck by a dump truck traveling on the adjoining road.



"He got loose and ran out on the road and hit by a truck," trainer Trond Smedshammer told harnessracing.com shortly after the incident occurred. "It's unbelievable; it always happens to the good ones, right?"



A 5-year-old son of Coktail Jet, Nelson November increased his 2005 earnings to $101,000 with a 1:53.3 victory in his last start Dec. 9 at the Meadowlands, one-fifth of a second slower than his career mark. Owned by the Kittelsen Racing Stable of Norway, Nelson November made his first three starts of the year in France before shipping to Smedshammer's stable in the U.S. He went on to post six wins and three seconds in 13 starts.



"Horses have run out there before but they always run back to the barn," said Smeshammer. "It's just a freak thing to happen--just terrible."

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