BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers
Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, March 15,
2018—Here’s a further update regarding driver Matt Kakaley, who was injured in
an accident during Yonkers Raceway’s 10th race Tuesday night (March
13th).
The update was provided by driver Mark
MacDonald at the request of Kakaley’s girlfriend, Annie Larrabee.
Kakaley, driving Lawgiver Hanover, and Jim
Marohn Jr., driving Big Jer, were at the rear of the field moving into the
third turn of the $15,000 pacing event. Lawgiver Hanover took a bad step, went
down and throwing Kakaley. Big Jer, who may have briefly gone down, unseated
Marohn Jr and ran off.
Kakaley, who turns 30 this coming Monday
(March 19th), was originally taken to Lawrence Hospital in nearby
Bronxville, NY, then subsequently moved north to Westchester Medical Center
(Valhalla, NY), where facial plastic surgery was performed.
MacDonald—who visiting Kakaley this
(Thursday) afternoon—said “considering what he went through, he was in very
good spirits, laughing and joking.”
It was MacDonald’s understanding that Kakaley is to be discharged from
Westchester Medical sooner rather than later, returning sometime next week to
have more work performed on his collarbone.
“I don’t know if it’s the best-case scenario, but it seems to be close,”
MacDonald said. “The doctors see no reason he won’t recover and get back
driving, maybe within five or six weeks.”
Does Kakaley had any recollection of the accident?’
“Not much,” MacDonald said.
Lawgiver Hanover was euthanized. The
9-year-old son of Art Major had won 28-of-202 career starts with earnings of
$623,179.
Marohn Jr. and Big Jer both escaped
injury, the former taking his final two scheduled Tuesday drives and with a
full complement of Yonkers’ Thursday assignments.
Further updates shall be provided as
available. Kakaley has won 4,169 races and more than $61.1 million in purse in
a career that began in 2006.
