Racegoers at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas watched a routine Saturday night card turn into a viral “near disaster” when an Acadian Ambulance unit suddenly appeared on the inside rail, driving directly toward a field of Quarter Horses in the eighth and final race.
Eight veteran stakes horses had just broken from the gate for an 870-yard race around one turn on the one-mile oval when jockeys realized a slow-moving ambulance was coming at them on the turn. Video shows riders yanking mounts off the rail and trying to pull up, with the No. 1 horse forced to make the most dramatic move to avoid a head-on collision.
Miraculously, all horses and jockeys avoided impact, and no injuries were reported.
Race Ruled No Contest, Bets Refunded
One Fast Cajun and jockey Kody Kellenberger crossed the wire first, but because of the mid-race chaos, stewards declared the race a “no contest,” voiding the result and refunding all wagers.
Track announcer Rob Tuel admitted he did not initially realize the “flash of white” on the turn was a moving vehicle headed the wrong way, telling fans on the replay that a “track vehicle out of position” had “seriously affected some of the runners” and that officials were “thankfully” dealing with a near miss rather than a tragedy.
Acadian Ambulance Issues Statement
Acadian Ambulance, which provides standby services at Evangeline Downs, confirmed the unit was “traveling on the track to reposition” while a race was in progress and said no people or animals were injured. The company says it is working with track officials to investigate what happened and strengthen communication and protocols “to ensure this type of incident does not occur in the future.”
Insane angle of the ambulance incident at Evangeline Downs…