Harness racer dies in multi-horse crash at Osoyoos raceway

A harness racer died at the Desert Park Raceway in Osoyoos on Sunday.

According to a statement from the raceway, during the fifth race of the day the leading horse lost its step and “went down on the track.”

“The trailing drivers and horses were unable to avoid the downed horse, leading to a multi-horse collision,” the statement read.

“Scott Knight, who was driving the number four horse, Wits Beach, did not survive the accident.”

Knight, of Langley, was 52.

Another driver, Carson Abbott, was taken to hospital while all the horses involved survived.

Desert Park Raceway officials cancelled the remainder of Sunday’s live racing program immediately following the accident.

Kelly MacMillan, president of the Western Canada Horse Racing Association and operator of Desert Park Raceway, said the racing community’s thoughts and prayers were with the Scott family.

Harness racing is a type of Horse Racing in which a driver is towed on a two-wheeled cart.

A GoFundMe page set up for Knight’s family noted he left behind his wife Lindsey and two sons and three step children.

Over his driving career, Knight won 1,448 races that earned more than $9.5 million for the owners.

dcarrigg@postmedia.com